Jordan confirms first case of mpox in the country

AMMAN: The Ministry of Health confirmed Jordan’s first case of mpox in a non-Jordanian resident. The patient, a 33-year-old man, is being treated in isolation at Al Bashir Hospital in Amman and is in stable condition.

The ministry will keep monitoring mpox and report any new cases, following the national plan and coordinating with relevant authorities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) raised its international alert level on August 14 due to the resurgence of mpox and the discovery of a new strain, Clade 1b, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Africa CDC also declared a public health emergency due to the rising number of cases on the continent.

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Cases are increasing in Africa, with outbreaks in Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda, and have also been found in Asia and Europe. As of August 27, Africa has reported 22,863 suspected cases and 622 deaths, with the DRC alone accounting for 90% of the 2024 cases. The WHO reports that Africa had 5,281 confirmed mpox cases from the start of 2024 up to August 25.