The United Arab Emirates became the first Gulf country to announce a case of monkeypox on Tuesday, insisting it was “fully prepared” to handle any outbreak.

The Ministry of Health Prevention said that the first case was detected in a 29-year-old woman who arrived from West Africa, noting that she is receiving the necessary medical care.

UAE is believed to be just the second Middle Eastern country after Israel to detect monkeypox. 

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“We have put in place precise mechanisms for diagnosing suspected patients,” a ministry statement said.

The Czech Republic and Slovenia also reported their first cases of the virus on Tuesday, joining 18 other countries to detect the disease outside its usual Africa base, reported BBC. 

Outbreaks of the virus have been found in Europe, Australia and America. The symptoms often include a fever and rash.  Outside Africa there are now 237 confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox. 

Germany said it has ordered upto  40,000 doses of the Imvanex vaccine that is used to treat smallpox, but also effective against monkeypox. 

Anyone already vaccinated with a smallpox vaccine years ago as part of a global bid to eradicate the disease should have existing immunity, German health officials said. But they added that the older treatment has more side-effects so is not suitable for fighting monkeypox today.

Also Read: What experts are saying about the monkeypox outbreak

Meanwhile, in France where three cases have been detected, officials announced a targeted vaccination campaign of adults who had been recently exposed.

Authorities there are recommending that a vaccine be given within four days of exposure, but up to 14 days afterwards if necessary.

In England, 14 more cases of the virus had been detected, taking the total number of cases in the UK to 71, reported BBC. 

An outbreak of the monkeypox virus in North America and Europe is primarily spreading through sex among men, World Health Organisation officials said.