Morocco on alert to respond to potential Mpox cases

Moroccan health authorities are making plans in case an Mpox case was detected in the country, after the World Health Organization declared the virus a global emergency.

The virus has been spreading rapidly in DRC and other African countries and was detected outside the continent in recent days.

Plans are under way to ensure Moroccan healthcare workers are aware of the key signs to look out for and have rapid tests available, health minister Khaled Ait Taleb said following a meeting with the ministry’s scientific committee.

“This meeting is part of the proactive measures and ongoing efforts undertaken by the Kingdom, in accordance with the high royal directives, to monitor and assess the epidemiological situation,” he said.

The meeting also discussed the treatment protocol for Mpox, emphasizing the need to adhere to prescribed treatments and to provide the necessary medical supplies to ensure the treatment of potential cases according to the highest health safety standards, he said.

One of the main reasons the WHO called for global action against mpox is the emergence of a new type of the virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), known as Clade 1b.

Currently, there are no cases of Clade 1b mpox confirmed in Morocco, but experts say cases can spread on a global scale if international action is not taken.