Testing for monkeypox, now officially known as MPOX, has been introduced in the Maldives following a donation of test kits by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Ministry of Health announced the new testing capabilities in a recent statement, expressing gratitude for the support received from the WHO.
The ministry highlighted that with the availability of these test kits, the Maldives is better equipped to manage and respond to any potential outbreaks of MPOX.
Monkeypox, first identified in Denmark in 1958, was renamed MPOX by the WHO in November 2022. The disease has also been reported in neighboring countries, including India and Pakistan. The Maldives recently tested two suspected cases of MPOX; however, the individuals were ultimately diagnosed with pneumonia.
As of now, MPOX is spreading most rapidly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its neighboring regions, with 19,710 suspected cases reported in Congo this year alone.
The Ministry of Health announced the new testing capabilities in a recent statement, expressing gratitude for the support received from the WHO.
The ministry highlighted that with the availability of these test kits, the Maldives is better equipped to manage and respond to any potential outbreaks of MPOX.
Monkeypox, first identified in Denmark in 1958, was renamed MPOX by the WHO in November 2022. The disease has also been reported in neighboring countries, including India and Pakistan. The Maldives recently tested two suspected cases of MPOX; however, the individuals were ultimately diagnosed with pneumonia.
As of now, MPOX is spreading most rapidly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its neighboring regions, with 19,710 suspected cases reported in Congo this year alone.
