Steps taken to prevent spread of Monkeypox infections across schools in Bahrain

TDT | Manama           

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Since the first report of the Monkeypox case in the Bahrain, the Ministry of Education along with the Ministry of Health is exerting all efforts to prevent the spread of Monkeypox across schools. These steps follow increased concerns among parents, students, teachers and school management about the possibility of Monkeypox virus spreading among pupils, especially those in primary schools. According to the Ministry of Education, preventive measures are being implemented across all schools.

“The procedures already in place were also strengthened in accordance with shared proactive plans.” Monitoring the effects of contacts, keeping an eye on suspected cases, and tracking their progress will help the Ministry of Health to ensure that the public’s health is in good hands, according to officials. Speaking to The Daily Tribune, a parent who doesn’t want to be named, said: “We are thankful to the government officials for taking initiatives and providing facilities to prevent any transmission of Monkeypox.

The parents should not send their children to school if they have fever or nodes on their skin.” Recently an international traveller, who was diagnosed with Monkeypox infection, has been kept under isolation and is undergoing treatment in the Kingdom, Health Authorities said. Bahrain thus became the fourth country in the GCC to detect a Monkeypox case after the UAE, Saudi and Qatar. The Ministry of health said: “The individual, a 29-year-old expatriate man, reached the kingdom, the patient is experiencing symptoms and receiving the necessary care, based on the adopted protocols.”

The Health Ministry said: “It has been on a general alert against the disease and is prepared to deal with developments based on set local and global disease prevention protocols while cooperating with regional and global health bodies.” The disease appears with general symptoms of flu, including fever and headache. However, it is distinguished often by the lesions appearing on the skin a few days after contracting the fever. The Ministry of Education also referred to the importance of community awareness in assigning all efforts made to stay healthy, stressing that they will take important steps in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.