Libreville, August 22, 2024 (AGP) – The Minister of Health, Professor Adrien Mougougou, announced this Thursday, in a press release distributed to the Gabon Première newspaper, the discovery in Gabon of a case of the Monkey virus Pox or MPOX.
« On August 22, 2024, the government announced the first case of Monkey Pox or MPOX. In fact, since our monitoring system was put on alert, six (6) suspected cases with MPOX symptoms have been received, sampled, cared for and isolated. Of the six samples taken and sent to the national public health laboratory, only one case was positive.appeared the Minister of Health, Professor Adrien Mougougou, saying “it is‘ relates to a 30-year-old fellow, living in Gabon and having stayed for two weeks in Uganda. »
According to the member of the government, the Ministry of Health, with the support of its partners, has implemented measures aimed at strengthening preparations against the introduction of MPOX into Gabon.
The statement by the Minister of Health comes a few hours after the press conference of Dr. Magaran Monzom Bagayogo, the resident representative of the WHO in Gabon, who during this exchange on Thursday with the media, assured that everything in place stop this virus.
« Gabon is ready to face this disease. With the Ministry of Health, we are working to be able to strengthen monitoring to detect cases early and manage them. We are also working to strengthen the capacities of health workers, so that they can detect and take care of issues. WHO also supports the national public health laboratory by providing reagents so that they can detect or test the disease. “he announced.
He further explained: smallpox is not COVID-19. The probability of the public being infected is very low and we have the ability to defeat this disease even without a vaccine. What is recommended is the protection of health workers. “he reassured himself.
Monkeypox, also known as MPOX, is transmitted by direct contact with an infected person, contaminated materials or an infected animal. It manifests itself with symptoms such as, skin rashes on the face, hands, feet, body, perianal area or genitals; rash in the mouth, throat, eyes, vagina and anus; fever; lack of energy; headache and painful urination.
LNM/DT
