By Sue-Ann Wayow
BE on the lookout for monkeypox in Trinidad and Tobago.
This was the advice given by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh on Wednesday.
Deyalsingh said although there is not yet a confirmed or suspected case of the disease, the population should be proactive and vigilant.
He was speaking at Ministry of Health’s virtual Covid-19 update.
Deyalsingh said, “Just because we don’t have a confirmed or suspected case of monkeypox in Trinidad, don’t wait until we confirm one to then be careful. We are asking persons to be vigilant from now. To be vigilant if you are in close personal contact especially skin-to-skin contact or sharing bedding and clothing with someone who may have recently travelled to one of the 43 countries that are now reporting monkeypox cases.”
He continued, “If you are in a family, or in a close relationship with anyone who has recently travelled to a country where monkeypox is being detected, be cautious how you mix with that person in your household and even when you go out to mass events, you don’t know the person standing next to you, the person sitting next to you.”
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Referring to the Covid-19 virus, he said the same advice applies where persons have to take the necessary precautions when out in public assuming that the person next to them may have the virus.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram said as of June 15, a total of 2,103 laboratory cases have been confirmed with one probable case of monkeypox in 42 countries including nearby Venezuela, the US, Canada and Mexico.
And for every 100 monkeypox infections, anywhere between one and 11 deaths can occur.
The public health measures already in place for Covid-19 will also assist in reducing possible spread of monkeypox and health officials are continued to appeal to the population to follow such measures.
Deyalsingh advised citizens to look for signs and symptoms of monkeypox.
These include: swollen lymph nodes, fever, rashes with a blister, headaches, muscle aches and fatigue.
The minister also announced that the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) received testing kits and were undergoing a validation process.
CARPHA will be able to test samples from Caricom countries.
Deyalsingh said that the Trinidad Public Health Laboratory will also have the testing capacity for Trinidad and Tobago samples, and should be expecting testing kits soon.
Director of Women’s Health Dr Adesh Sirjusingh also spoke to pregnant women as early initial information shows monkeypox can spread from mother to child.
Dr Sirjusingh said, “We are taking a proactive approach. We are not going to wait for the first case to be diagnosed in pregnancy and everyone will be worried at that time. I want to reassure the public that all systems are in place.”
“All of the scientific information we’ve been receiving has been shared in our healthcare networks. They are aware of the signs and symptoms and the potential risks and possible treatment algorithms are being developed as guided by international bodies like the World Health Organization,” he added.
While adult persons who contract monkeypox may have mild symptoms and can recover in a few weeks without treatment, pregnant women were considered to be in a high-risk group, Dr Sirjusingh said.
