Armenia closes borders to rodents and primates amid monkeypox concerns

In a proactive move to prevent the spread of monkeypox, Armenian authorities have banned the import and transit of rodents and primates through the country.

"To avoid the outbreak and spread of monkeypox sources, the import and transit of all types of rodents (live and dead, including as animal food) and primates through Armenia are prohibited starting from August 21 until further clarifications from the World Health Organization (WHO)," the Food Safety Inspectorate said in its decision.

The country's Ministry of Health previously reported that no cases of monkeypox had been detected in Armenia. Stepan Atoyan, Director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that the likelihood of the disease spreading in the region is low.

However, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the monkeypox outbreak in Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) last week.