Paraguay has no records of monkeypox cases but remains under active surveillance

Facade of the headquarters of the Ministry of Public Health of Paraguay. Photo IP Agency

Asuncion, IP Agency.- Paraguay has not yet registered any cases of monkeypox in the country, despite the fact that suspicious events have been reported. The Ministry of Health states that intensified surveillance is continuing throughout the country, as well as differential diagnosis.

The latest Health Surveillance report indicates that, so far this year, 7 suspected cases have been reported from Central (5), Paraguarí (1) and Concepción (1), which were discarded.

According to the report from the Ministry of Public Health, those who were discarded had been diagnosed with chickenpox and other common rash diseases.

Monkeypox causes skin rashes (similar to pimples or blisters), as do other diseases, so it is essential to seek medical attention early for evaluation and timely diagnosis, and thus prevent the spread of the disease.

Anyone who has physical or intimate contact with someone who has symptoms or skin rashes caused by monkeypox is at risk of contracting it, so they are urged to take these recommendations into account.

•Avoid close contact, including sexual contact, with people who have monkeypox or are suspected of having the disease. Kissing and hugging a person who has the virus also transmits the disease.

•Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.

•Do not share utensils, glasses, mate or tereré.

Situation in the Americas

In its latest MPOX epidemiological update, PAHO reports that this year 2024, 13 countries in the region have registered cases of monkeypox: Argentina (8 cases), Bolivia (1 case), Brazil (702 cases), Canada (162 cases), Chile (7 cases), Colombia (111 cases), Costa Rica (1 case), Ecuador (4 cases) and the United States (1,716 cases and one death). Guatemala (1 case), Mexico (53 cases), Panama (4 cases) and Peru (77 cases).

The report mentions that genomic surveillance identified clade IIb in all cases analyzed, which remains the only one detected to date in the region and not the clade I variant of the virus circulating in Africa.