The Ministry of Health has confirmed this country’s first case of monkeypox, now known as Mpox.
According to a release from the Ministry, the patient is a middle-aged male with travel related history. He was tested on Tuesday and the sample was then sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA) laboratory via the Trinidad Public Health Lab.
Contact tracing has begun.
The Ministry reminded the public that the Mpox virus continues to circulate worldwide.
According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) update (as at July 4, 2023) 88,144 cases have been detected globally amongst 112 countries and there has been a total of 149 deaths.
“The Mpox virus can range from mild disease to severe illness and is spread through close contact or through respiratory droplets. Common signs and symptoms may include a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. Anyone experiencing these symptoms is advised to visit their nearest health facility,” the Ministry of Health said in its release.
The public is also reminded to maintain good hygiene practices such as hand washing or sanitizing where appropriate.
The Mpox vaccine is available in Trinidad and Tobago but only for contacts of known positives only.