Monkeypox in Bahrain: What Do We Know About the Situation in the Bahrain?

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Updated 05 August 2022

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently declared the spread of Monkeypox a ‘global health emergency’ amid the rising infection rates worldwide. Fortunately, no cases have been found in Bahrain as of now. Below, we have gathered all the information that you need about the restrictions on Monkeypox in Bahrain. Read further to find out.

What is Monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions.

In most cases, people typically recover within two to four weeks without needing to be hospitalized. In some cases, however, monkeypox can also be fatal in up to 6 per cent of cases and could also be more severe in children.

Monkeypox cases in Bahrain

According to the latest report from Bahrain’s Health Ministry on August 4, 2022, no cases of monkeypox have been detected in Bahrain so far.

Monkeypox news in Bahrain

In response to WHO’s declaration of the Monkeypox virus as a global health emergency, The Minister of Health, Dr Jaleela bint Sayed Jawad Hassan stated that the Kingdom of Bahrain has taken extensive active preventive steps to stop the spread of monkeypox, especially in view of the surge in the number of infected cases globally.

The Minister reaffirmed Bahrain’s government’s commitment to protecting everyone’s health and safety. She stressed that epidemiological surveillance measures are being increased throughout the Kingdom and that the government has put in place a plan to secure the necessary medical and logistical resources to stop the spread of the disease and deal with affected cases.

Dr Jaleela added that the necessary methods for screening, quarantine, and treatment have been adopted by the relevant authorities in accordance with worldwide WHO norms and standards, underlining the fact that the Kingdom has not yet identified any cases of monkeypox.

As part of proactive measures, the Ministry of Health has educated medical personnel about the virus and its modes of transmission, established a system for reporting suspected cases to the Public Health Directorate, and assessed the need for contact tracing plans, as well as the requirements for disease control and immunizations.

For a period of 21 days, it has been decided that two groups will follow the isolation protocols, specifically:

1. Individuals who tested positive for the virus were placed in isolation in order to obtain the necessary care and stabilize their health. The time of isolation began on that day.
2. For people who have had contact with an infected individual and are suspected of having the virus; the quarantine period begins on the day of the last interaction.

Monkeypox vaccination in Bahrain

The Bahraini government has launched a voluntary monkeypox vaccination for priority groups and they are also opening the pre-registration for the vaccination and it is free of charge. Citizens and residents can register through the official website of the Bahrain Ministry of Health or by calling the 24/7 hotline at 444.

What causes Monkeypox?

Monkeypox is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as clothing, bedding, or other items used in healthcare settings.

Monkeypox symptoms

Monkeypox has an incubation period of seven to 14 days. The initial symptoms of monkeypox are similar to influenza with fever, chills, exhaustion, headache, muscle weakness and swelling in lymph nodes.

The widespread of rashes all over the infected bodies include the inside of the mouth, palms of the hands, and feet. Moreover, it has been reported that the rashes are mostly in the genital area for the early stages of the illness.

The most distinguished ways of transmission of the Monkeypox infection from one person to another are typically through contact with body fluids and respiratory droplets, contact with skin lesions of an infected person and contact with contaminated surfaces.

What is the treatment for Monkeypox?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA, there are no treatments specifically for monkeypox virus infections. However, monkeypox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, which means that antiviral drugs and vaccines developed to protect against smallpox may be used to prevent and treat monkeypox virus infections.

Antivirals, such as tecovirimat (TPOXX), may be recommended for people who are more likely to get severely ill, like patients with weakened immune systems.

Monkeypox prevention

Here are the things that you can do to prevent the spread of Monkeypox:

• Keep your hands clean by washing them for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitisers
• Prevent animal-to-human transmission
• Avoid any contact with wild animals
• Cook meat properly
• Avoid any objects that have been in contact with a sick animal
• Prevent human-to-human transmission
• Avoid contact with any person who has a rash
• Avoid contact with any object that has been in contact with a sick person