A second monkeypox patient has been confirmed in Jamaica by the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Yesterday, the Minister of Health and Wellness reported that a second case of the fast-spreading global disease have been confirmed in an individual who returned from the United States.
In the statement released, the ministry advised that there was “another imported case in a male traveller who recently returned to the island from New York” and “the patient is now in isolation” with a stable condition.
It was further reported that there is an ongoing investigation and contact tracing is being conducted.
The ministry also advises Jamaicans to be vigilant by adhering to the infection-prevention measures for COVID-19. It is reported that the COVID-19 infection-prevention measures can effectively limit the spread of Monkeypox. Such measures include frequent handwashing/sanitization, mask-wearing and physical distancing.
Meanwhile, monkeypox has been declared to be a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) last Friday.
Monkeypox is a close contact disease that can be transmitted from an infected animal to a human, contaminated material to a human, or from one individual to another.
The transmission from one individual to another can occur when there is direct contact with monkeypox skin lesions or scabs; contact with contaminated personal items, including clothing, bed linen or towels; and close contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person who coughs or sneezes.
The monkeypox symptoms include fever, headache, swelling of lymph nodes, back pain, muscle ache and rash.
Authorities are urging persons experiencing these symptoms to immediately self-isolate and call ahead to their health centre or doctor before
