Min Anthony assures that there are no case of monkeypox recorded in Guyana

As more countries continue to record cases of the monkeypox disease, Guyana’s surveillance team has been instructed to be more vigilant in identifying the disease.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, noted on Friday, that there has been no case of the disease recorded in Guyana. “We have also put our surveillance team on alert, and we have sent out a memo to all our doctors identifying what are the clinical symptoms of monkeypox, and just for them to be on the alert in case they see any cases,” he said.

Dr. Anthony said that since May 13, 2022, cases of monkeypox have been reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from countries worldwide that are not endemic for the monkeypox virus. Minister Anthony notedsaid some countries include United States of America, Australia, Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

Minister Anthony revealed that with improved surveillance systems across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries can now monitor and detect new and emerging diseases.

“We don’t have any cases right now, so the best way is to do surveillance, just to make sure that if we identify any cases, we’ll be able to advise that person or persons or household how to protect themselves,” Dr. Anthony said. The minister pointed out that symptoms are likely to appear five days after infection. Symptoms include fever, headaches, swollen lymph nodes and rashes.

Dr. Anthony disclosed that while monkeypox is similar to smallpox, it is important that health workers differentiate the diseases. Medical workers are expected to be on the alert, and report any signs or symptoms, so that the relevant precautionary measures could be established.

Dr. Anthony added  that the disease is not only contracted from monkeys, but also rodents and one infected person to another.