Jamaica Announces First Case Of Monkeypox Global Voices

Health Secretary Christopher Tufton tweeted the news: We have our first confirmed case of monkeypox. The patient is a male who recently traveled from the UK. He presented to the public health system on July 5, having arrived on the island five days earlier. pic.twitter.com/9gtYtL0OlP — Dr. Chris Tufton (@christufton) July 6, 2022 In an interview with Radio Jamaica, he also made sure to state, “This is not a crisis announcement,” pointing out that while the disease, which has clearly visible symptoms, may be much easier to detect than COVID-19, there is no need to panic . However, one health worker tweeted: My favorite part of working in primary care/public health is how every viral infection presents with fever, headache and muscle aches. Is it the flu? Is it dengue? Is it Covid? Is it Monkeypox? 🫠 — Robyn (@robynas_) July 6, 2022 The Ministry assured citizens that emergency health protocols have been activated in line with international standards, including a review of all isolation facilities to manage both monkeypox and COVID-19. In accordance with these protocols, the patient has been isolated and his close contacts quarantined, following contact tracing. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie stressed that Jamaicans should continue to use the COVID-19 disinfection methods that are still in place in many offices and retail outlets and protect their personal health and hygiene as they have proposed earlier this year. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, encourages people to follow the disinfection protocols that would have been used during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says monkeypox is spread through close contact and if symptomatic, people are urged to stay home. pic.twitter.com/jCmAfgM3F4 — Jamaica Observer (@JamaicaObserver) July 6, 2022 With more than 6,000 cases in 58 countries (Europe has, so far, recorded the highest numbers of monkeypox in the world), the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted: “Testing remains a challenge and it is very likely that there are a significant number of undetected cases. Europe is the current epicenter of the epidemic, accounting for more than 80 percent of #mumps cases worldwide”[email protected] — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 6, 2022 A Jamaican pointed the finger at the source of the contamination: Jamaica’s first case of Covid-19 came from ENGLAND Jamaica’s first case of monkeypox also came from ENGLAND Wtf. — A thena (@6treena) July 6, 2022 However, Minister Tufton said screening at ports of entry is “always in place and on high alert now”, meaning health teams have been set up to monitor and take necessary action. Concluding that an outbreak of monkeypox “does not create a crisis”, Minister Tufton suggested that daily life in Jamaica would be “business as usual”. CMO Bisasor-McKenzie added that because monkeypox “is not easily transmitted” – it is only spread through close contact with infected animals such as rodents or from person to person – it was less likely to become endemic in Jamaica, which, thanks to the Pan American Health (PAHO) training, has the ability within the country to test for the disease. Although there is no specific vaccine for monkeypox, smallpox vaccine, now available in small quantities, may prove effective. Smallpox was eradicated in Jamaica in 1980. The COM confirmed that “preliminary discussions have taken place” and that the country’s health system, which offers a robust vaccination program, remains in close contact with PAHO on vaccine availability. Bisasor-McKenzie noted that the early symptoms (fever, headache and exhaustion) “will resemble COVID-19 [so] stay home if you are sick,” adding that immunocompromised Jamaicans should take special precautions. Still, deaths were rare for what he called a “pretty mild disease.” While some media reports have given the impression that monkeypox is a sexually transmitted disease prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM), the CMO has corrected this misconception, explaining that it is a “close contact transmission, which can happen in any kind of close encounter.” Another doctor shared: Although monkey pox can be transmitted during sex – it is NOT a sexually transmitted infection. It is transmitted through close contact. Vesicles can be found anywhere on the body. — Vaccinate children 6 months and older (@thelaymansdr) July 6, 2022 Another Jamaican underscored this point: EVERYONE IS AT RISK OF INFECTING THIS VIRUS!! Monkeypox is not an STD!!!!! It spreads like chicken pox. Don’t be dense and think it’s the other way around for any “set” of people. — Midas⚜️ (@chadmorganesq) July 6, 2022 Meanwhile, fears that the COVID-19 pandemic has opened the door to other viruses that disrupt the immune system continue to linger. The rates of COVID-19 contraction and hospitalization for the Omicron variant are currently fairly stable in Jamaica. With low levels of testing, positivity rates hover around 15 to 20 percent. In a country with the lowest COVID vaccination rate in Latin America and the Caribbean and high levels of public transport, could Jamaica’s population be particularly vulnerable? Jamaica is the worst place for monkey pox. All of these are itchy and skin to skin in taxis/buses — TaeJen🇯🇲 (@goldenplum__) July 6, 2022 No new public health regulations have yet been made for monkeypox, but the public is still advised to wear a mask when taking public transport. A health worker also suggested that the country has learned valuable lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, but with COVID-19 now “milder” than it was, Jamaicans have become complacent about the risks of infectious diseases ; With mask mandates and travel restrictions in Jamaica lifted on March 1 – and tourism numbers reportedly on the rise – one Jamaican wondered if monkeypox could be a wake-up call for partygoers: Jamaicans: Covid numbers are falling, we’re out and not in Monkey Pox: pic.twitter.com/0PS7spAyNp — JordzW (@JordizzleJ) July 6, 2022 The local entertainment sector has been fully open for business since March 18 and the country is gearing up for a series of public events, parties and concerts over the summer, including carnival events in July and Reggae Sumfest later in the month, all in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence on August 6. Only time will tell if the arrival of monkeypox will put a damper on the planned festivities.

title: “Jamaica Announces First Case Of Monkeypox Global Voices " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-09” author: “Peggy Patterson”

Health Secretary Christopher Tufton tweeted the news: We have our first confirmed case of monkeypox. The patient is a male who recently traveled from the UK. He presented to the public health system on July 5, having arrived on the island five days earlier. pic.twitter.com/9gtYtL0OlP — Dr. Chris Tufton (@christufton) July 6, 2022 In an interview with Radio Jamaica, he also made sure to state, “This is not a crisis announcement,” pointing out that while the disease, which has clearly visible symptoms, may be much easier to detect than COVID-19, there is no need to panic . However, one health worker tweeted: My favorite part of working in primary care/public health is how every viral infection presents with fever, headache and muscle aches. Is it the flu? Is it dengue? Is it Covid? Is it Monkeypox? 🫠 — Robyn (@robynas_) July 6, 2022 The Ministry assured citizens that emergency health protocols have been activated in line with international standards, including a review of all isolation facilities to manage both monkeypox and COVID-19. In accordance with these protocols, the patient has been isolated and his close contacts quarantined, following contact tracing. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie stressed that Jamaicans should continue to use the COVID-19 disinfection methods that are still in place in many offices and retail outlets and protect their personal health and hygiene as they have proposed earlier this year. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, encourages people to follow the disinfection protocols that would have been used during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says monkeypox is spread through close contact and if symptomatic, people are urged to stay home. pic.twitter.com/jCmAfgM3F4 — Jamaica Observer (@JamaicaObserver) July 6, 2022 With more than 6,000 cases in 58 countries (Europe has, so far, recorded the highest numbers of monkeypox in the world), the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted: “Testing remains a challenge and it is very likely that there are a significant number of undetected cases. Europe is the current epicenter of the epidemic, accounting for more than 80 percent of #mumps cases worldwide”[email protected] — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 6, 2022 A Jamaican pointed the finger at the source of the contamination: Jamaica’s first case of Covid-19 came from ENGLAND Jamaica’s first case of monkeypox also came from ENGLAND Wtf. — A thena (@6treena) July 6, 2022 However, Minister Tufton said screening at ports of entry is “always in place and on high alert now”, meaning health teams have been set up to monitor and take necessary action. Concluding that an outbreak of monkeypox “does not create a crisis”, Minister Tufton suggested that daily life in Jamaica would be “business as usual”. CMO Bisasor-McKenzie added that because monkeypox “is not easily transmitted” – it is only spread through close contact with infected animals such as rodents or from person to person – it was less likely to become endemic in Jamaica, which, thanks to the Pan American Health (PAHO) training, has the ability within the country to test for the disease. Although there is no specific vaccine for monkeypox, smallpox vaccine, now available in small quantities, may prove effective. Smallpox was eradicated in Jamaica in 1980. The COM confirmed that “preliminary discussions have taken place” and that the country’s health system, which offers a robust vaccination program, remains in close contact with PAHO on vaccine availability. Bisasor-McKenzie noted that the early symptoms (fever, headache and exhaustion) “will resemble COVID-19 [so] stay home if you are sick,” adding that immunocompromised Jamaicans should take special precautions. Still, deaths were rare for what he called a “pretty mild disease.” While some media reports have given the impression that monkeypox is a sexually transmitted disease prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM), the CMO has corrected this misconception, explaining that it is a “close contact transmission, which can happen in any kind of close encounter.” Another doctor shared: Although monkey pox can be transmitted during sex – it is NOT a sexually transmitted infection. It is transmitted through close contact. Vesicles can be found anywhere on the body. — Vaccinate children 6 months and older (@thelaymansdr) July 6, 2022 Another Jamaican underscored this point: EVERYONE IS AT RISK OF INFECTING THIS VIRUS!! Monkeypox is not an STD!!!!! It spreads like chicken pox. Don’t be dense and think it’s the other way around for any “set” of people. — Midas⚜️ (@chadmorganesq) July 6, 2022 Meanwhile, fears that the COVID-19 pandemic has opened the door to other viruses that disrupt the immune system continue to linger. The rates of COVID-19 contraction and hospitalization for the Omicron variant are currently fairly stable in Jamaica. With low levels of testing, positivity rates hover around 15 to 20 percent. In a country with the lowest COVID vaccination rate in Latin America and the Caribbean and high levels of public transport, could Jamaica’s population be particularly vulnerable? Jamaica is the worst place for monkey pox. All of these are itchy and skin to skin in taxis/buses — TaeJen🇯🇲 (@goldenplum__) July 6, 2022 No new public health regulations have yet been made for monkeypox, but the public is still advised to wear a mask when taking public transport. A health worker also suggested that the country has learned valuable lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, but with COVID-19 now “milder” than it was, Jamaicans have become complacent about the risks of infectious diseases ; With mask mandates and travel restrictions in Jamaica lifted on March 1 – and tourism numbers reportedly on the rise – one Jamaican wondered if monkeypox could be a wake-up call for partygoers: Jamaicans: Covid numbers are falling, we’re out and not in Monkey Pox: pic.twitter.com/0PS7spAyNp — JordzW (@JordizzleJ) July 6, 2022 The local entertainment sector has been fully open for business since March 18 and the country is gearing up for a series of public events, parties and concerts over the summer, including carnival events in July and Reggae Sumfest later in the month, all in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence on August 6. Only time will tell if the arrival of monkeypox will put a damper on the planned festivities.