Man in Clarendon first confirmed monkeypox case in Jamaica

With this in mind Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said, at an emergency press conference confirming the first case, he doesn’t “envision the kind of response to the novel coronavirus when it came on March 10, 2020”.

“We believe that we can manage this current threat and if we play our part we can manage it in a way where we can continue to live our normal existence and go about our business whether [to] play or otherwise,” he said.

“Monkeypox is not easily transmitted and requires close prolong contact for transmission to occur,” added Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, Jamaica’s chief medical officer.

Dr Tufton confirmed that the individual is based in the parish of Clarendon and recently arrived from the United Kingdom. Contact tracing is being carried out on close contacts of the individual.

See full statement below:

We have our first confirmed case of monkeypox. The patient is a male who recently travelled from the United Kingdom. He presented to the public health system on July 5, having arrived on the island some five days earlier,” Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton read from a prepared text at an emergency press conference this afternoon.

The patient, who is from the central parish of Clarendon, has been isolated and his close contacts quarantined, following contact tracing, noted Dr Tufton.

The confirmation of this first case has triggered our emergency protocols in line with International Health Regulation protocols.

Among other things: 1. Our Emergency Operations Centre has been activated. 2. A review of all isolation facilities is to be done to look at the capacity to manage both monkeypox and COVID-19. 3. The necessary health protocols, including surveillance, clinical management, laboratory management, as well as infection prevention and control are being completed for distribution to health teams islandwide. And sensitization of the health team and members of the public, which began more than a month ago, is being enhanced.
 

VIRUS CONTEXT
Monkeypox is a viral disease caused by the Monkeypox virus (MPXV). The first human case was confirmed in a child in the equatorial region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1970.

Since then, sporadic cases have been reported from the rainforest areas of central and western Africa while large outbreaks have occurred mainly in the DRC where the disease is currently considered endemic. The United States has had imported cases.

This year, in addition to the United States, the WHO has reported cases in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and The United Kingdom.

VIRUS BEHAVIOUR
Spread of monkeypox may occur when a person comes into close contact with an infected animal (rodents). Person-to-person spread is uncommon, but may occur through: 1. direct contact with monkeypox skin lesions or scabs; 2. contact with clothing or linens (such as bedding or towels) used by an infected person; and 3. coughing or sneezing of an individual with a monkeypox rash.

The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), the respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth).

The incubation period, as we understand it, is between 5 and 21 days. Symptoms are usually mild-to-moderate and include: Fever; Intense headache; Lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph node); Back pain; myalgia (muscle ache); intense asthenia (lack of energy); and/or rash.

There is no present recommendation for the vaccination of the general public. If you are experiencing fever, intense headache, muscle aches and/or rash on the skin, you must isolate immediately and call ahead to your health centre or doctor before visiting.

All members of the public should wear a mask, frequently wash hands and practice physical distancing.