Monkeypox virus test kits available in Kyrgyzstan

18:03, 16 августа 2024, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Anastasia BENGARD

Kyrgyzstan has monkeypox (mpox) test kits in case of need to diagnose the virus. The head of the Epidemiological Directorate of the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary, Epidemiological Surveillance Dinara Otorbaeva told 24.kg news agency.

According to her, at present, there is no reason to fear about the possible emergence of the disease.

«The virus has long been registered in African countries, but there are no monkeys in Kyrgyzstan, that is, there is no source of infection. Cases of monkeypox transmission by contact and domestic means have not been registered in Europe,» Dinara Otorbaeva said.

She noted that for the purpose of prevention, it is necessary to observe personal preventive measures when traveling abroad.

The WHO declared the monkeypox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern on August 14. The first case of infection outside Africa was registered on August 15 in Sweden, the second — in Pakistan.

The virus can be transmitted both from animal to human and from human to human if personal hygiene is not observed.

Typical symptoms of monkeypox are a skin rash or mucous membrane lesions that may last for two to four weeks and may be accompanied by fever, headache, muscle and back pain, weakness and swollen lymph nodes.