Guyana’s 1st monkeypox case detected

…do not panic – Health Minister to population

By Rupa Seenaraine

The global outbreak of monkeypox is raging on and Guyana officially declared its first case on Monday after laboratory testing confirmed the virus in a Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) male.

This new epidemic has been declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organisation, with detection of monkeypox in 95 territories.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony addressed the country’s patient zero in a recorded statement just after reports surfaced about the infection. The infected person is in his fifties and hails from Region Four (Mahaica-Berbice). After developing signs of monkeypox, the man visited a health facility where doctors treated the case as a suspected one and followed established protocols.
The sample was taken and processed, where it confirmed to be that of monkeypox.

“Over the last weekend, we had a case of suspected monkeypox. Clinically, the person had all the signs and symptoms of monkeypox and we have been able to do that by using the PCR testing to do the confirmatory diagnosis. So, we now have our first case of monkeypox in Guyana,” the Health Minister announced.
The person has been isolated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), where a section of the facility had been isolated in the event of a monkeypox detection locally. Those who were in contact with him have been quarantined.
“That patient is stable and doing very well. The persons who the patient had been in contact with over this period, we’ve also spoken to them and they’re right now in quarantine. While we have our first case, we have been preparing and taking precautions to make sure that whenever we have a case, we would be able to detect that case properly and confirm it with laboratory analysis.”
Updating that the patient is stable, the senior health official assured the public that authorities are taking all the necessary measures, and the Health Ministry is equipped with diagnostic capabilities.
Moreover, he is urging the general public not to panic.
Dr Anthony expressed, “I don’t want people to panic because monkeypox is not something that is readily transmissible. You have to be in very, very close contact with that person and the lesions on their skin or the liquids that come out of those lesions before you can actually get sick. This is something that as we continue managing it as we are right now, that people would be quite safe.”
From March to present, over 42,666 cases have surfaced globally. Across the Region, cases have been detected in countries like Cuba, Barbados, Jamaica, Bahamas and Brazil.
Brazil has been plagued with over 3000 infections.
Just this month, the Health Minister announced that Guyana’s borders and ports of entry were being monitored for any potential cases of monkeypox. The Ministry had been putting contingency plans in place, and also deploying resources to treat any cases that arise.
Doctors and other medical staffers were also briefed on the protocols to be followed should persons present themselves at any health facility with symptoms associated with monkeypox. Meanwhile, persons were sent for training to support testing capacity at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory.
“Anybody presenting with typical clinical symptoms of monkeypox, those symptoms should be reported so we have our response team go out and help with the evaluation of that patient. This is the protocol we have followed in this particular instance,” Dr Anthony further asserted.
Now that there is a case, the plan is to purchase additional test kits to ensure adequate supplies. It was identified that while cases spread in different parts of the world, detection becomes of paramount importance for Guyana.

Confidence
President Irfaan Ali, during an engagement with the media on the sidelines of an event, placed his confidence in the Health Ministry to handle this new development and the monkeypox epidemic.
The Head of State shared, “I’m very confident in the Ministry of Health. We have already ordered vaccines some time ago although there is very limited supply. The system at Ocean View has already been activated and there has been greater monitoring.”
It was communicated that no restrictions will be imposed. Dr Ali said the country needs better responsibility instead. Based on monitoring and contact tracing, vaccines will be administered as he postulated that the immunisation of every citizen is not feasible nor needed.

Symptoms
Monkeypox would appear as a rash. Once infected, a person can spend from seven to 21 days in incubation before the symptoms manifest.
The acute skin rash may be present with maculopapular (flat based lesions) to vesicles (fluid-filled blisters), pustules, and subsequent crusting affecting the face, palms of the hand, soles of the feet and the rest of the body.
It may be accompanied with headache, acute onset of fever, myalgia, back pain, asthenia and lymphadenopathy.
Monkeypox is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with material contaminated with the virus. It is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Narine Singh advised during the update, “If you know someone is infected and have typical lesions, the idea is to stay away from them and avoid close contact. That will actually provide them from getting the transmission. That is why one of the public health measures is to isolate those who are infected to reduce contact.”
Should a person notice such symptoms, the CMO said they can seek medical attention in both the public and private sector.

Vaccines
Presently, antiretroviral treatment is used but it is not widely available around the world. Guyana has made attempts to procure some smallpox vaccines through the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). These are manufactured by Bavarian Nordic but demand is at its peak.
Providing an update on these efforts, the Health Minister shared, “We have been working with PAHO and we have been able to place an order for vaccines. The hope is that maybe in another month, we should get our first set of vaccines, specifically for monkeypox coming in to Guyana. We have taken steps to be able to manage this disease.”