Russia to send monkeypox test kits to Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, Congo - Rospotrebnadzor

MOSCOW. July 27 (Interfax) - Russian test systems to diagnose monkeypox will be provided to Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the Republic of Congo at the end of July, the press service for Russian consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said.

"Rospotrebnadzor is continuing to extend support to partner countries' efforts to counter the spread of monkeypox. Test systems produced by Rospotrebnadzor's Vector Research Center will be handed over to Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the Republic of Congo at the end of July," the press service said.

Rospotrebnadzor earlier sent such test kits to Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, it said.

"Furthermore, Rospotrebnadzor specialists are arranging special workshops to colleagues from partner countries that deal with laboratory methods to diagnose monkeypox," it said.

Rospotrebnadzor said earlier that the Vector Research Center had produced monkeypox test kits, and such testing is currently available in all Russian regions.

Monkeypox is a rare infectious disease, most common in remote parts of Central and West Africa. Its symptoms include nausea, fever, rash, itch and muscle pain.

On July 12 Rospotrebnadzor announced the first national case of monkeypox: the patient had returned from Portugal. His symptoms were mild and did not endanger the patient's life. Rospotrebnadzor said that all his contacts had been promptly identified and were now under medical monitoring. The threat of spread has been contained.