WHO provides monkeypox test kits to Azerbaijan

The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office provided 3000 monkeypox test kits to Azerbaijan to be used in case of need. 

"Azerbaijan is one of the first countries to receive these test kits from WHO, and they will help to detect cases and inform public health efforts aimed at controlling the disease's spread. We aim to support countries with tried-and-tested public health tools, including surveillance, contact-tracing, and isolation of infected patients. Early diagnosis is an important part of this effort," – said Dr Hande Harmanci, WHO Representative to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has not reported any monkeypox cases yet, but as of 30 June 2022, the virus has been confirmed in 58 countries with 5,322 cases. There has been one death reported associated with the current monkeypox outbreak. 

Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus, generally seen in animals. Its symptoms are similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe. (Smallpox was totally wiped out of the world in 1980, thanks to a very effective vaccine.) The monkeypox virus is transmitted from infected animals to humans via indirect or direct contact. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or lesions, including face-to-face and respiratory droplets.

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