The Kingdom of Morocco announced on Thursday the first confirmed case of monkeypox.

The Moroccan Ministry of Health stated in a statement that “the case was discovered within the health protocol adopted in the Kingdom since the start of this global health alert, as the infected person received the necessary health care in a specialized medical center in the city of Marrakech, and he is in a stable health condition that does not call for concern.”

The ministry called on Moroccans to adhere to the recommended preventive measures, such as washing hands regularly, avoiding direct contact with infected or suspected people and maintaining personal hygiene.

The World Health Organization has declared the disease a public health emergency.