The technical director of the Center for Health Emergency Response Operations (CORUS), Dr. Watton Rodrigue Diao, indicated on Wednesday that the surveillance system against monkeypox or M POX is up and running and that the country is ready to face the disease in the event that it breaks out."I can say that to date, there is no confirmed case of "M POX" (monkey pox) in Burkina Faso. However, since our surveillance system is up and running, we have recorded 12 suspected cases which have quickly led to clinical management of patients," said Dr Watton Rodrigue Diao.Mr. Diao, also technical director (TD) of the Center for Health Emergency Response Operations (CORUS), specified that investigations and samples were sent to the national laboratory for viral hemorrhagic fevers to confirm the diagnosis.According to him, the laboratory results were negative, which means that the country does not record any positive cases of 'M POX'.The DT of CORUS spoke on Wednesday in Ouagadougou, during an information and dis cussion meeting with journalists on monkeypox.For him, since last month, positive cases of the epidemic have been recorded in West Africa, particularly in Ivory Coast with two suspected cases at the beginning of August."Therefore, Burkina Faso, through CORUS, transmitted an alert notification to the entire health system so that everyone is alerted, in order to strengthen surveillance and begin preparing the response against the disease," he said.Dr. Rodrigue Diao stressed that the symptoms of the disease include, among others, headaches, fever, intense fatigue, pain and the appearance of skin pimples.The CORUS DT reported that the 2022 response plan has been updated to prevent and manage epidemic patients in health centers, through safe, adapted and progressive care.According to him, regional directors and district chief physicians of hospitals, whether public or private, have already been trained on the issue of response.In terms of precautions, Diao urged citizens to, among other things, avoid c ontact with animals, cook their meat thoroughly, isolate any suspected cases of illness, wash their hands regularly with soap, use hydroalcoholic gels and wear masks.He called on the population to trust health workers by going to health centers if they show symptoms of the disease.Other African countries affected by the 'M POX' disease or monkey pox are Burundi with 171 confirmed cases, South Africa with 24 cases and 3 deaths, Cameroon with 5 cases and 2 deaths, Central African Republic with 45 cases, Nigeria with 40 cases, Liberia with 6 cases, Rwanda with 4 cases, Ivory Coast with 28 cases and 1 death, Uganda with 3 cases, and Kenya with 1 case.It should be noted that the monkeypox virus was discovered in 1958 in a Copenhagen laboratory in macaques (*Macaca fascicularis*) imported from Singapore. It is transmitted from man to man or from animal to human.Source: Burkina Information Agency