No threat of monkeypox spread in Russia: authorities

MOSCOW, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) — Russian authorities confirmed on Thursday that there is no threat of monkeypox spreading in the country.
“In Russia, all necessary measures to detect the infection are being implemented timely and systematically. The situation is under constant control, and there is no threat of the disease spreading in Russia,” Rospotrebnadzor, the country’s consumer rights and human well-being watchdog, said in a statement.
The statement follows the WTO’s categorization of the monkeypox outbreak in Africa as “a public health emergency of international concern.”
Rospotrebnadzor said Russia has sufficient advanced test systems for rapid monkeypox detection, adding that developed by Russian scientists, these highly efficient tests can be used outside laboratory settings.
Russia is also prepared to assist African countries affected by the monkeypox outbreak.
“Rospotrebnadzor will provide scientific and technical assistance and training specialists to the African countries affected by the epidemic, as well as to the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” the statement added. ■