”Lebanon safe from monkeypox, so far”, says health minister

Health Minister Firas Abiad assured on Saturday that “Lebanon is so far free from monkeypox”, a virus endemic to West Africa which has been reported in Europe and in North America.

“Lebanon is so far safe from monkeypox (…) However, we must remain cautious, especially during this period when the number of trips is increasing,” said Mr. Abiad in an interview with the Sky News Arabiya channel. The Minister specified that he had given directives to the prevention department of the Ministry of Health to take the necessary measures at the points of entry into the country, in particular at Beirut International Airport, and by carrying out clinical examinations with medical specialists.

Cases of monkeypox have been recorded in several Western countries since the beginning of May, notably in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, or even Portugal, France or Sweden. Its symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fatigue. Rashes can occur, often on the face, and spread to other parts of the body including the genitals, before going through different phases, crusting over and falling off. There is no cure for monkeypox, which is spread by contact with an infected person or their body fluids, including saliva. This viral infection heals itself.

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Health Minister Firas Abiad assured on Saturday that “Lebanon is so far free from monkeypox”, a virus endemic to West Africa that has been reported in Europe and in North America.”Lebanon is so far safe from monkeypox (…) However, we must remain cautious, especially during this period when the number of trips increases”,…