The Moroccan Ministry of Health announced its new action plan to deal with the possible monkeypox outbreak, after dozens of cases were recorded in neighboring European countries.
The government set up a national surveillance and response plan, although many Moroccan epidemiologists believe that it is unlikely that the disease will reach Morocco.
“Any person presenting a rash, vesicular or vesiculo-pustular, with fever above 38 degrees celsius will be considered a suspect case,” said the ministry in its plan.
According to the department headed by Khalid Ait Taleb, even “people who have had contact with a confirmed case in the 21 days before the onset of symptoms, or any suspect case who has made, in the 21 days before the onset of symptoms, a trip to a country where the disease is endemic or a country that has recorded a chain of transmission since the beginning of May 2022, or any suspect case with involvement of the palms of hands and/or soles of the feet, or with the presence of adenopathies will also be considered probable cases.
The Ministry informs Moroccans that any suspected or probable case must be immediately reported to the provincial or prefectural health authority of the public or private health facility where the doctor has made the diagnosis.
“The Provincial/Prefectural Delegation of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection coordinates, as a matter of urgency, with regional health services to verify the case, and proceed with the epidemiological investigation as soon as the case is classified as probable,” continues the plan.
The ministry’s plan advises a two-week quarantine for anyone with clinical signs consistent with a probable monkeypox case, even if it is restricted to the aforementioned symptoms without a diagnosis, or if a strong suspicion of chickenpox or other rash fevers is not established.
Strict adherence to hygiene measures is recommended, and symptomatic treatment should be prescribed by the attending physician and, if hospitalization is needed, it should be in isolation in a room reserved for this type of infection.
If the virus affects a student, they should be immediately removed from the school, says the Ministry.
If it is a civil servant or another government employee, the servant should immediately cease working, and they will have to follow a treatment duly authorized by a doctor for a period of 14 days.
They will be allowed to return to work only after presenting a medical recovery certificate, says the ministry.
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