Iran confirms first case of monkeypox

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – The first case of monkeypox has been identified in Iran in a person from the southwestern city of Ahvaz, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

The infected person has been identified as a 34-year-old woman, who was immediately put under quarantine.

Ministry spokesman Pedram Pakaein said the infected person was identified with the cooperation of her family by observing her skin lesions.

He said those who have been administered smallpox vaccine are immune to the disease.

A local media outlet quoted Deputy Health Minister Kamal Haideri as saying that the patient had contracted the infection from her husband while travelling to Canada.

The official said thermal cameras have been put up at airports across the country to identify suspicious cases, especially those traveling from abroad.

He said that vaccines for the disease have so far not been imported, and will be produced domestically if the need arises.

The transmissible disease was first identified and named in the late 1960s when monkeys were observed by researchers in Denmark to have smallpox-like symptoms.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in July declared the spread of monkeypox globally as an international emergency while the US also declared its national emergency following the rapid spread of the disease earlier this month.

Monkeypox has so far affected nearly 16,000 people in at least 72 countries, according to reports, but the Middle East region remains least affected.