A total of 14 monkeypox cases have been reported in the Middle East and North Africa, 13 in the UAE and one in Morocco, the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday.
But cases of the disease in non-endemic countries around the world “continue to rise” and the spread must be contained rapidly, said Dr Ahmed Al Mandhari, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean (Emro) at a press briefing in Cairo.
“Right now, these outbreaks can be stopped,” he said. "But it is critically important for countries to support health services and to stop onward transmission from the cases."
A total of 780 confirmed cases have been reported in 27 countries where the disease is not typically found, but no deaths. Cases tripled between May 29 and June 2.
Seven endemic countries in central and West Africa have reported more than 1,400 suspected cases and 44 confirmed infections, including 66 deaths.
The WHO has assessed the overall public health risk as moderate at both global and regional levels, with the mortality rate in endemic countries at about 3 per cent.
The virus was discovered in laboratory monkeys in 1958 and was first identified in humans in 1970. The latest outbreak in non-endemic countries last month is atypical and suggests there may have been undetected transmission for months or possibly years, the WHO has said.
“The situation is evolving rapidly and epidemiological investigations are still ongoing,” Dr Al Mandhari said.
The disease has symptoms similar — but less severe — to smallpox, which was eradicated in 1979. Both present themselves with a “fever, general unwellness, aches and pains” and a “blister-type rash” on the skin, said Dr Richard Brennan, regional emergency director for Emro.
Human-to-human transmission occurs mainly through close physical contact with infectious ulcers, lesions or sores on the skin or in the mouth or throat.
Dr Brennan said: “It doesn’t typically spread through respiratory droplets, like measles or Covid. It spreads with very close physical contact."
Recovery takes about two to four weeks and usually does not require hospital treatment. People who are more at risk include children, pregnant women and those who are immunocompromised.
Dr Rana Hajjeh, director of programme management at Emro, said: “Monkeypox is a limited disease in regards to its dangerous aspects and transmissibility to others."
Only one treatment called Tecovirimat has been approved by the WHO but is recommended for use only in severe cases.
There are some vaccines against monkeypox but they are available in “very small amounts” and are not currently the recommended method by which to control the virus, Dr Hajjeh said.
Smallpox vaccines can be used in certain instances but the stockpile comprises only about 5 million doses and features a high complication rate for people with weaker immune systems, Dr Brennan said.
“Our risk-benefit ratio suggests that it’s not the right thing to be using right now,” he said.
Measures to stop the spread include raising public awareness about the disease and its symptoms, improving surveillance measures, using contact tracing, quickly isolating suspected cases and increasing laboratory capacity.
In response to a question about the possibility of a monkeypox outbreak at Hajj next month, Dr Brennan said it is not a high risk as long as the necessary public health measures are put in place.
“The Saudi health system is very well-attuned to the potential of disease outbreaks,” he said. "If there is an outbreak, we believe the Saudi health system will respond effectively."
The emergence of infectious diseases has become the “new normal” over the last couple of decades, Dr Brennan said.
“About 70 per cent of the new infectious diseases that we have identified spill over from the animal kingdom to humans,” he said.
“We saw with Covid that the world was not prepared. We know the next disease is somewhere down the track. We know the next pandemic is somewhere down the track. This is why we absolutely have to take this seriously.”
ABU DHABI ORDER OF PLAY
Starting at 10am:
Daria Kasatkina v Qiang Wang
Veronika Kudermetova v Annet Kontaveit (10)
Maria Sakkari (9) v Anastasia Potapova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ons Jabeur (15)
Donna Vekic (16) v Bernarda Pera
Ekaterina Alexandrova v Zarina Diyas
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m
Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
