Health Minister Víctor Atallah said on Thursday that the institution is monitoring the development of monkeypox (MPOX), and that there is a “possible pandemic” of this disease.
“Just yesterday I announced that something called a National Epidemiological Surveillance System is going to happen, because when will it allow us to have exact, precise, minute-by-minute data on everything that is happening and occurring?” said the minister during the program Esto No es Radio
Public Health indicates that Vaccines are available and from 2022, more than 2,000 people This biological has been applied, as a priority, to the at-risk groups.
In that order, based on the recommendations shared by the WHO/PAHO, The health authority instructs to take the following measures:
General population: avoid direct, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash resembling smallpoxcontact with objects and materials that a person with this disease has used, such as bedding, clothing, etc. Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer alcohol basedespecially before eating or touching your face and after going to the bathroom.
Health services have been instructed to notify everything unusual event possibly related to MPOXaccording to the case definition established for this disease; make the differential diagnosis chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, herpes, syphilis, other sexually transmitted infections, and drug allergies to rule out monkeypox.
In the presence of suspected, probable and/or confirmed cases, they must implement appropriate prevention and control measures of infections, perform tests to confirm the diagnosis, symptomatic management, follow-up and treatment of complications and serious conditions.
At Provincial Directorates and Health Areas (DPS/DAS) were instructed to strengthen epidemiological surveillance for the Early detection and timely notification of cases.
Monkeypox or monkeypox
It is a viral zoonosis caused by a virus that is characterized by rash or skin lesions which usually concentrate on the face, the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. The incubation period (time between infection and the appearance of symptoms) is six to 16 dayshowever, may vary between five and 21 days.
Case reporting is crucial because it allows quickly identify to the contacts of an infected person, which facilitates the implementation of preventive measures and health promotion, such as vaccinationBy identifying and reporting cases in a timely manner, the spread of the disease can be limited, the risk of outbreaks can be reduced, and protect vulnerable populations. Vaccination, in particular, is a effective preventive measure which can stop the transmission of contagious diseases when administered in time to close contacts of a confirmed case.
