Iraq News Now

Shafaq News/ Iraqi health authorities are on highalert as monkeypox cases continue to rise globally. While the country has yetto report confirmed infections, officials assured that the government isclosely monitoring the situation and has already implemented preventivemeasures.

"We are closely following the latest developmentswith the World Health Organization and relevant authorities, both inside andoutside Iraq," said Dr. Raba Falah Hassan, a spokesperson for the IraqiHealth Ministry. "Health teams are deployed at border crossings andairports to screen for the disease, and any suspected cases are isolated andtested."

Hassan's comments echo the official stance of theIraqi government, which has repeatedly assured the public that the country iswell-prepared to respond to a potential outbreak. However, the recentdeclaration of a public health emergency by the World Health Organization hasheightened concerns among health officials and the public alike.

Immediately after the announcement, the healthdepartment in Kirkuk said it had increased preventive measures at the localairport for travelers arriving from affected areas. Similarly, the KurdistanRegional Government's Ministry of Health has declared a state of alertness andintensified surveillance efforts.

"We are taking all necessary precautions toprevent its spread," said the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry ofHealth spokesperson.

What Is Monkeypox?

Monkeypox, a viral illness that can cause a painfulrash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever, is spreading rapidly through closecontact with infected individuals or animals. Experts warn that anyone cancontract the disease, regardless of age or health status.

"The virus, also known as Mpox, can betransmitted through various means, including touching, kissing, sexual contact,and contact with infected animals," said Dr. Firas Riad Jameel, aprofessor of biotechnology and infectious diseases. "It can also spreadthrough contaminated materials such as sheets, clothing, or needles."

While the disease is typically not fatal, it can causesevere complications in some cases. Health experts emphasize the importance ofearly diagnosis and treatment to prevent the spread of the virus and minimizeits impact.

"Vaccination is available for people at high riskof exposure, such as healthcare workers and laboratory personnel," saidDr. Jameel. "It is crucial to follow the guidelines set by healthauthorities to protect oneself and others from infection."

"The public is advised to be aware of thesymptoms…Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attentionimmediately."

Fears And Concerns

The news of potential Mpox cases in Iraq has sparkedfear and uncertainty among the local population. Iraqis, who are yet to recoverfrom the economic and emotional aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, receive thenews about another infectious disease with much concern and fear.

Last week, health officials in the southern Iraqigovernorate of Dhi Qar said they were investigating a suspected case in aforeign national. The patient, whose nationality has not been disclosed, iscurrently under medical observation and has presented symptoms similar to thoseof chickenpox.

While the initial diagnosis points towards chickenpox,a source said, "Concerns have been raised about the possibility of amonkeypox infection. Samples have been sent to a central laboratory in Baghdadfor further analysis."

The news was particularly distressing to the parentsof children with chronic illnesses in the country, who urged the Ministry ofEducation to reinstate home-based learning programs.

"Our children have undergone organ transplants orsuffer from chronic diseases, making them extremely vulnerable toinfections," said one parent, speaking on behalf of a group of parents."We fear that sending them to school would put their lives at risk."

The parents emphasized the importance of consideringthe unique circumstances of sick students and argued that home-based learningwould prevent them from facing unnecessary health risks.

"We need clear and early guidelines abouthome-based learning to avoid the annual confusion and stress caused byuncertainty," another parent said.

Yesterday, a World Health Organization officialassured that Mpox, regardless of whether it is the new or old strain, is notthe new COVID, as authorities know how to control its spread.

"We can and must tackle Mpox together," saidHans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, in a U.N. media briefing.

"So will we choose to put the systems in place tocontrol and eliminate Mpox globally? Or will we enter another cycle of panicand neglect? How we respond now and in the years to come will prove a criticaltest for Europe and the world," he added.

More Yet To Come

The escalating Mpox outbreak is causing alarm amongsome health experts, who warn that the latest strain of the virus could be morefast-spreading and deadly than an early 2022 outbreak.

The World Health Organization last week declared Mpoxa global public health emergency following the spread of an outbreak in theDemocratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to neighboring countries.

Since the new outbreak, cases have been identified incountries where Mpox is not endemic, such as Sweden, Pakistan, and Thailand —although it's unclear which strain has been identified in some of thesenations.

The variant Clade 1 is already known for causing moresevere disease in young children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people.That has hastened the outbreak in countries with more prevalent healthconditions and poorer healthcare systems.

"As Mpox disease is more severe inimmunocompromised individuals, it is also a concern that the current outbreakis taking place in a region where HIV prevalence is relatively high but accessto antiretroviral drugs is poor," said Brian Ferguson, associate professorof immunology at the University of Cambridge.

Ongoing conflicts in parts of Africa — such as theDRC, where a large number of displaced people have relocated to refugee camps —have also worsened sanitation conditions and accelerated the spread.

So far this year, more than 15,000 cases and at least537 deaths have been reported from the outbreak in the DRC, according to theWHO, with more cases reported elsewhere.

Ferguson said that more cases will likely beidentified in the coming days and weeks given the lack of controls to preventthe spread from country to country. He also said that lessons had not beenlearned from the prior outbreak and declared a public health emergency in July2022 before the designation was removed in May 2023.