On August 15th, the Turkish Ministry of Health reported that there were no current cases of Mpox in the country. The ministry also stated that there was no need for additional restrictions or measures at this time.
On August 14th, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency due to the Mpox virus. The Turkish Minister of Health, Kemal Memişoğlu, said that Turkey is closely monitoring the situation regarding both Mpox and Covid-19, but reassured that there is no immediate cause for alarm.
According to the WHO, the latest outbreak of Mpox originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and spread to neighboring regions. The outbreak has resulted in at least 524 deaths. This outbreak is considered more concerning due to its association with a new variant of the virus.
The Turkish Health Ministry emphasized that efforts are underway to manage the situation. A scientific committee and health infrastructure are continuously monitoring the situation.
Mpox is transmitted through contact with infected rodents or individuals. Symptoms include high fever, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, chills, and skin blisters similar to chickenpox. In the 2022 outbreak, Turkey reported five cases of Mpox.
