The Pasteur Institute of Algeria (IPA), called on Sunday for respect for a number of barrier gestures and preventive measures against the monkeypox virus.
While the World Health Organization (WHO) expects new cases of monkeypox to be identified worldwide, 92 cases had been confirmed and another 28 were considered suspicious in twelve countries where the virus is not endemic. In Algeria, no case has fortunately been detected so far.
As with the Coronavirus, “barrier gestures can be useful”, writes the IPA in an information note. These include, among other things, wearing a mask in closed populated places, washing hands and social distancing.
The IPA further calls for “maintaining a distance of at least one meter from other people, especially if they are coughing, sneezing or have a fever”.
Also, a number of specific measures can be taken to prevent infection with the monkeypox virus, adds the IPA. The Institute thus advises to “avoid all contact with animals likely to harbor the virus (in particular sick animals or animals found dead in regions where “Monkeypox” is present)”, to “avoid all contact with materials , such as litter, who have been in contact with a sick animal” and to “isolate infected patients from other people who may be at risk of infection”.
In addition, the IPA calls on citizens to “adopt good hand hygiene after contact with infected animals or humans” and wash their hands with soap and water or use a hydro-alcoholic solution and to “use personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients.
On May 7, 2022, a first case of monkeypox was confirmed in Europe in an individual who had returned to England from Nigeria.
Since then, health authorities in the United Kingdom have notified 09 confirmed cases and several countries have announced that they have recorded cases, including France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Canada and the United States.