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By Mark DaCosta- Yesterday – Wednesday – health officials in nearby Trinidad and Tobago announced that a second case of mpox – or Monkeypox has been confirmed in the twin island republic; the first case was reported on Tuesday.
With that announcement, Trinidad and Tobago joins several Caribbean States with confirmed cases of the disease, including Puerto Rico (13 confirmed, 12 suspected). Cases have also been reported in the Dominican Republic (three confirmed, one probable), Jamaica (two confirmed), Bahamas (one confirmed, one suspected), Barbados (one confirmed), Bermuda (one confirmed), and Martinique (one confirmed).
Caribbean health officials say they are monitoring the situation – as the disease is not endemic to the Caribbean, instead, it is known to be present in numerous animal species in Africa and occasionally spreads to humans.
Scientists say that the current outbreak of mpox started in May of last year. The initial cluster of cases was found in the United Kingdom where the first case was detected in London on 6 May 2022. in a patient with a recent travel history from Nigeria (where the disease is endemic). On 16 May, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed four new cases with no link to travel to a country where mpox is endemic. All four cases appeared to have been infected in London.
Mpox is caused by a virus similar to that which caused smallpox, a disease which has been eradicated worldwide.
Mpox is usually a mild disease, causing flu-like symptoms and a rash that may break open, becoming sores. However, the disease can be quite dangerous to some people, including pregnant women, the elderly, and patients with preexisting conditions such as cancer or untreated AIDS.
Mpox is known, too, to cause sight threatening eye complications.
A vaccine is available that experts say is almost 90 percent effective in preventing infection.
Guyanese who may be concerned or want more information should visit a health care centre or talk with their physician.
Citizens are also invited to read more about the virus here: https://www.who.int/
