The Ministry of Public Health announced on Friday that it is closely monitoring the Monkeypox situation in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and scientific committees, reassuring that there have been no new cases of Mpox reported in Lebanon since last March.

The Ministry emphasized its ongoing efforts to enhance surveillance systems to ensure early detection and rapid diagnosis of any potential cases.

The Ministry also clarified that the WHO does not currently recommend any specific measures at border crossings related to Monkeypox.

To keep the public informed, the Ministry provided important information about the disease, including its symptoms and preventive measures.

Mpox is a contagious disease caused by the Monkeypox virus. While most people recover fully within two to four weeks, certain groups, such as individuals with weakened immune systems, chronic illnesses, children, and pregnant women, are at a higher risk of severe complications, which can sometimes be fatal.

The disease can spread through direct contact with infected individuals via touching, kissing, or sexual contact; exposure to contaminated items such as bedding, clothing, or needles; respiratory droplets from close, prolonged interactions with an infected person; transmission from a pregnant woman to her fetus, during childbirth, or through close contact between a parent and child; in community settings like tattoo or beauty salons; and through contact with infected animals, particularly during activities such as hunting, skinning, or cooking.

Symptoms of Mpox usually appear one to three weeks after exposure and generally last two to four weeks, though they may persist longer in individuals with compromised immune systems. Common symptoms include headaches, fever, sore throat, rash (which can occur anywhere on the body, including the mouth or throat, and may present as either a single lesion or multiple lesions), swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain, back pain, and fatigue.