Zahedan University of Medical Sciences scales up monkeypox surveillance amid growing outbreak in neighboring countries
Since 13 May 2022, cases of monkeypox have been reported to WHO from 12 Member States that are not endemic for monkeypox virus, across three WHO regions.”
Report from: Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, International Affairs Office
Published on: 08 June 2022
Laboratory diagnosis and initial screening facilities for monkeypox now is available in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences.
"Monkeypox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus".
"Since 13 May 2022, cases of monkeypox have been reported to WHO from 12 Member States that are not endemic for monkeypox virus, across three WHO regions."
The Chancellor of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences said: "Fortunately, so far (as of June 8 2022) we have not had any confirmed cases of monkeypox in the country and in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, but given the fact that cases of disease has been reported in some neighboring countries it is necessary scale up the disease surveillance to identify possible cases".
Dr. Habib Ghaznavi emphasized on the intensification of disease surveillance across all point of entries in border terminals, including Mirjaveh border terminal as he said: "in addition to sensitizing our hard-working colleagues in the first level of providing services in comprehensive health service centers, rural health houses and urban health centers we established laboratory facilities for definitive diagnosis."
He added: "Parallel to the emergence of new health threats, it is necessary to add new services to the service system functions. The valuable experience of our colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic and the existence of the necessary devices and equipment and has made it possible to develop and adapt to new diagnostic needs".
Dr. Ghaznavi, appreciating the specialized efforts of all healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the experts working in the molecular diagnostic laboratories, said: "with the support of Pasteur Institute of Iran, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences laboratory has been provided with diagnostic kits for monkeypox."
The director of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences Reference Laboratory Reference Laboratory, Dr. Alireza Salimi Kharashad , also said in this regard: "With the possibility of initial diagnosis of monkey pox in the province, there is no concern about laboratory identification in Sistan and Baluchestan Province and all medical centers in the province can follow the instructions of relevant companies to use these diagnostic kits."
Dr. Alireza Salimi Kharashad continued: Laboratory diagnosis of monekypox is done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
He added: "According to the instructions issued by the Ministry of Health, samples of skin or non-skin lesions of suspicious patients that are taken by our colleagues in the health system of the province under special conditions and for laboratory diagnosis will be sent to the reference laboratory of the University of Science and the result will be announced on the same day".
It is worth noting that symptoms such as fever, body aches and swollen lymph nodes are the first manifestations of monkey pox, and skin rashes on the face, neck, trunk and limbs occur in the later stages of the disease.
Copyright © 2022 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Date updated: 08/06/2022
Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us on: internationaloffice@zaums.ac.ir
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