The authorities confirmed more cases of monkeypox in Guatemala and El Salvador, as they prepare to deal with the outbreak of the disease.
In recent days, Public Health confirmed eight new infections in Guatemala. Seven patients are men, between 23 and 36 years old, and another, a 43-year-old woman, originally from Chimaltenango. All are isolated at home and medical staff monitor their health status.
Overall, according to the Guatemalan National Health Laboratory, 61 monkeypox patients have been identified, of whom 19 have recovered.
Meanwhile, the authorities analyze the relationship between infections and the detection of the disease is reinforced.
César Conde, director of the National Health Laboratory, told the voice of america that “units are trained to recognize the disease, take the sample and then send it because all that part before the test is done is also important.”
The epidemiological alert for monkeypox is active and the same prevention protocols for COVID-19 are maintained in Guatemala.
For her part, Lorena Gobern, head of the Department of Epidemiology, stressed to the VOA the importance of “wearing a mask, avoiding close contact with people who have lesions on their skin and the use of alcohol gel or proper hand washing.”
11 infections in El Salvador
In the case of El Salvador, the Minister of Health, Francisco Alabí, confirmed on Monday 11 cases of monkeypox in the country, in a television interview with the Salvadoran Telecorporation, according to reported the newspaper The Savior.
The media indicates that Dr. Alabí did not give details about the last case. The previous one was reported on October 14 last. In late August, Salvadoran public health authorities confirmed the first case of monkeypoxa 28-year-old woman who arrived from the United States.
In Honduras, almost a month ago, the health authorities reported two new infections, reaching six in total. These were presented in the Honduran capital and are two men between 20 and 29 years old. So far, no further infections have been reported in the South American country.
In September, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that the countries of the Americas had become the epicenter of the global outbreak of monkeypox with more than 30,000 cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international health emergency on July 23its maximum level of alert, due to the outbreak of this disease.
[Con la colaboración de Ligia Toledo, desde Guatemala]
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