Morocco Updates Monkeypox Response Plan Amid Global Developments

In this new version of the response plan published by the Ministry of Health, one can find the definition and management of cases, the implementation of an information circuit related to new cases. According to the note sent to all the services under its supervision, Minister Khalid Ait Taleb explained that the update was made based on the latest developments at the international level.

Thus, a probable case is defined as "any person presenting a skin rash, vesicular or vesiculopustular, preceded or accompanied by a fever (measured at ≥ 38°C or not measured), and in whom the usual causes, in particular: chickenpox, measles, herpes, rickettsiosis or a possible allergic reaction, have been ruled out and who has had contact with a confirmed case within 21 days prior to the onset of symptoms".

Persons presenting symptoms and having recently stayed in a country with high virus transmission, or having multiple sexual partners or lesions on the external genitalia or in the perianal region, not explained by another obvious cause, are also concerned.

For the time being, only university hospital centers (CHU) are authorized to analyze samples to confirm monkeypox cases. The new version of the response plan emphasizes that children, pregnant women, immunocompromised persons, such as people living with HIV with an uncontrolled or poorly controlled chronic illness, as well as patients with chronic skin conditions or acute skin conditions, are considered high-risk individuals.