Monkeypox: UAE's quarantine, isolation protocols

All health authorities in the UAE are committed to a unified medical guide for dealing with cases of Monkeypox and their contacts.

That's according to the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), which said the protocols include complete isolation of the infected in hospitals until they recover, while quarantining their close contacts for a period of no less than 21 days at home and monitoring their health condition.

A total of four cases have been confirmed in the UAE so far after the ministry announced three new cases on Sunday.

MOHAP added that the UAE has an efficient epidemiological surveillance system in place to rapidly detect all communicable diseases, including Monkeypox.

What is Monkeypox?

MOHAP said Monkeypox is a viral disease, but usually a self-limited one, if compared to COVID-19.

"It's mostly transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, including bodily fluids, and respiratory droplets, or with material contaminated with the virus. It can also be passed to the baby in the womb," the Ministry said in a statement.

It has urged the public to take appropriate preventive measures and precautions while travelling and in large crowds.