Given the alert recently issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), about the monkey pox virus (Monkeypox), the Ministry of Health (Minsa) assured that in Panama, there are still no cases.
The director of Public Health of the Minsa, Melva Cruz explained that monkey or monkeypox is a viral zoonosis that is transmitted by contact of a person with the virus of an animal which enters the body through skin wounds, bites or scratches, bushmeat preparation, respiratory touch, or mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Despite the fact that no cases have been registered in the country, nor are there suspects, the isolation rooms in some hospitals have already been evaluated to verify that they are prepared in case a case is registered.
He said that epidemiological surveillance was reinforced at the entry points of the country, with the aim of being able to capture and timely address cases that are considered suspicious.
He stated that the symptoms of this disease, which include sudden fever (>38.5oC), skin rash, which can vary between one to three days, headache, myalgia, back pain, asthenia, lymphadenopathy,
The skin condition, caused by monkeypox, usually affects the face in 95% of cases, the palms of the hands and feet in 75%.
