The Saudi Public Health Authority announced on Saturday that no cases of Mpox Clade 1b, the strain behind a recent global outbreak, have been detected in the Kingdom. Despite the widespread transmission of this more deadly and transmissible variant, Saudi Arabia has so far remained unaffected.

The authority emphasized that Saudi Arabia is fully equipped to handle any potential health threats and prevent the spread of the virus

These efforts aim to ensure the safety and well-being of both citizens and residents. Officials also urged the public to rely on information from official sources and to be cautious of rumors or unreliable reports. Additionally, they advised against traveling to countries where Mpox outbreaks have been reported, which include Sweden and Pakistan.

The World Health Organization recently declared Mpox, particularly the Clade 1b strain, as a public health emergency of international concern

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Since the beginning of the year, Africa has reported a total of 18,737 suspected or confirmed cases of Mpox. The Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Clade 1b strain was first identified in September 2023, has been the hardest hit, with 1,005 cases (222 confirmed and 783 suspected) and 24 deaths reported in a single week.

Symptoms of the virus include

A rash that may persist for 2–4 weeks, which may be accompanied by or followed by:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Back pain
• Fatigue
• Swollen glands