Claudia Cuéllar, director of Epidemiology and Demography of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, indicated this May 20 that the WHO reports indicate that since the 15th of the same month, cases of monkeypox were reported.
Also, he highlighted that this smallpox is a viral zoonotic disease which, according to the WHO, occurs in tropical forest areas of central and western Africa, although it is occasionally exported to other regions.
“It is important to keep in mind that this virus is transmitted from one person to another through close contact with injuries, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding,” Cuéllar said.
On the other hand, he stated that its clinical presentation is similar to that seen with smallpox, although it is considered by the evidence to be less serious. Cuéllar maintained that within the framework of the International Health Regulations this Friday a risk assessment was carried out, in which it was concluded that, at this time, the risk level is moderate, Therefore, monitoring and control measures are required, in accordance with the recommendations of the WHO.
“This evaluation will be carried out once more as the scientific evidence changes or as more reports and information related to the behavior of this virus are available,” added Cuéllar. Symptoms of monkeypox include rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion.
He also specified that according to studies of outbreaks in African countries, the smallpox vaccine confers cross-protection and has been effective in 85% of cases.
As stated by the National Institute of Health, so far the country neither suspects nor confirms a case of this type of smallpox. The director of Epidemiology also pointed out that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of May 20, no deaths associated with monkeypox have been reported.
Eight countries in Europe, two in the Americas and one in the Pacific have registered confirmed cases as of this Friday, of which 66 infections are confirmed and 51 suspected:
UK: 9 confirmed 0 suspected
Portugal: 14 confirmed 20 suspected
Sweden: 1 confirmed case 0 suspected
Italy: 3 confirmed 0 suspected
Spain: 31 confirmed 8 suspected
France: 1 confirmed 0 suspected
Belgium: 1 confirmed 2 suspects
Germany: 1 confirmed 0 suspected
United States: 1 confirmed 1 suspect
Canada: 2 confirmed 20 suspects
Australia: 2 confirmed 0 suspected
The official explained that, among the WHO recommendations, countries must carry out a risk assessment, since the identification of a series of confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox without direct travel links to an endemic area is very unusual.
He also said that the WHO has indicated that public health measures must continue in the countries that notify these cases, since it is possible that it spreads and, in the event of any suspicion of a patient with monkeypox, it must be investigated and isolated, making a Tracing of close contacts you may have had.
He indicated that the WHO, so far, has not issued any type of travel restrictions to countries such as Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom or any other affected, according to the information available.
Similarly, the official reiterated that this smallpox occurs more frequently in countries of Central and West Africa and that in 2019 a vaccine was approved, which has limited availability in most countries. This year, Tecovirimat was also approved as a treatment, always with recommendation and under medical prescription.
Finally, Cuéllar specified that the country has the capacity to detect this smallpox, through the INS reference laboratory.
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