Cairo, Aug. 1 (BNA) Sudan said it had discovered the country’s first case of monkeypox virus in the conflict-ravaged Darfur region, the Associated Press reported.
The Ministry of Health said late Sunday that the case of the 16-year-old student was discovered last week in West Darfur state. No other details were given about the patient.
The ministry said that there are at least 38 suspected monkeypox cases, all of which tested negative for the virus except for one in West Darfur. She said health authorities are working to identify student contacts to limit the spread of the virus.
An outbreak of monkeypox could be devastating for Sudan, which has suffered from decades of conflict in Darfur and other parts of the country, and international isolation. The East African country has been in turmoil since a military coup last year derailed its short-lived transition to democracy.
The virus originates in primates and other wild animals and causes fever, body aches, chills, and fatigue in most patients. People with severe cases can develop rashes and lesions on the face, hands, and other parts of the body.
The disease associated with smallpox was most commonly found in parts of Central and West Africa, before spreading to various parts of the world.
Last month, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global emergency, to ensure the world takes the current outbreaks seriously.
AOQ