Monkeypox

In the Cayman Islands, there remain to have been no detected cases of monkeypox.

Globally, there have been 68,998 laboratory confirmed monkeypox reported to WHO since the beginning of 2022 (data as of 4 October 2022). Over the past reporting week, there was a decline of 16.8% in new cases reported to WHO. This year, there have been 26 monkeypox deaths reported to WHO, with 7 reported during September and only one of these deaths occurring in the Region of the Americas.

What? The monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the same family of viruses as smallpox. The monkeypox virus is much less severe than the smallpox virus.

Where? Since May 2022, a multi-country monkeypox outbreak has occurred in countries that do not usually have monkeypox in animal or human populations. As at September 2022, seven (7) countries within the Caribbean region have reported cases of monkeypox.

How? Monkeypox is spread via direct contact with skin lesion of an infected person or recently contaminated objects. The virus can enter the body through broken skin (cuts), the respiratory tract, or via the eyes, nose or mouth.

Who? People who live with or have close contact (including sexual contact) with someone who has monkeypox are most at risk for getting monkeypox.

When? While most cases in current outbreaks have presented with mild symptoms, most commonly a fever and headaches, medical attention should be sought if the following symptoms arise: swelling, unexplained aching muscles, sudden rash in palms of hands/ soles of feet or in the genitals/anal area.