The Government announced that the Ministry of Health maintains active epidemiological surveillance in response to the alert issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) that declared an international public health emergency for the monkeypoxin the face of the current outbreak in several African countries.
Although the Minsa has not yet explained what this surveillance consists of, Vice President Rosario Murillo stated that the health authorities will maintain control of the entry points to the country (understood as airports and land borders). The travel history of tourists who have visited countries with cases of monkeypox or Mpox.
Just like the covidthe activation of surveillance for monkeypox or Mpox occurs without activating a health protocol until after the first case is reported; however, the authorities announce that they are taking action measures in response to the excessive increase of Mpox in African countries and the cases already reported in Europe.
On its website, the latest epidemiological report from the Minsa corresponds to week 15 of the year, published on April 22, 2024, so it is out of date. The Minsa also does not maintain updated data on Covid-19 and dengue. It is through the speech of Vice-dictator Murillo that data on the country’s public health is provided.
In 2022, the Government of Russia donated a batch of monkeypox vaccines to Nicaragua. On that occasion, Nicaragua did not report any cases of infection, nor did it clarify the quantity of vaccines. Health authorities have not yet explained whether the vaccines will be reused for this new alert or whether they have expired.
Related news: Russia donates monkeypox vaccines to Nicaragua, but Nicaragua “reports no cases”
Nicaragua and Belize were the only Central American countries not to report cases of Mpox in 2022, when the WHO reported an increase in cases, at that time, the variant was transmitted mostly through sexual contact. So far, no cases of the new clade Ib variant have been reported, which appears to be much more contagious.
According to the latest data from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 13 African countries have reported cases of mpox so far in 2024. Sweden reported on August 15 that it had already identified one case within its region.
What are the symptoms?
According to the WHO, the Mpox virus manifests itself primarily with high fever, an extensive skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes, which can make it difficult to differentiate from other diseases such as chickenpox, measles, and allergic reactions to medications.
The virus is transmitted mainly through direct or indirect contact with blood, body fluids, skin lesions or mucous membranes of infected animals. According to experts, the new variant could trigger a pandemic due to the high level of contagion, which is why more countries have joined in epidemiological surveillance.
