Mexico confirmed the first case of monkeypox on Saturday (28/5). The patient was revealed to be a United States citizen and is currently being treated in Mexico City.
Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell said the patient, who is a New York City resident, “was likely infected in the Netherlands”.
“Fortunately, he is stable and in preventive isolation. We hope he will recover without complications,” Lopez-Gatell said as reported AFP.
There is no information that the patient may have been in contact with other people.
Earlier, on the same day, Ireland had also confirmed the country’s first case of monkeypox.
On Friday (27/5), Argentina announced there were the first two cases of monkeypox in Latin America. The first patient is said to be a 40-year-old man who returned to Argentina from Spain and a Spaniard who visited Buenos Aires. The two patients appear to be unrelated.
Monkeypox can be transmitted to humans through infected animals. Person-to-person transmission is believed to be possible but is rare.
So far, 20 countries have declared confirmed cases of monkeypox. Around 200 confirmed or suspected cases are mostly in Europe.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns the LGBT community to be vigilant because the virus that causes monkeypox can be transmitted through sex.
This warning was issued because several cases of monkeypox were found in patients identified as LGBT.
Monkeypox can be spread through skin-to-skin contact such as touching, kissing, oral sex and penetration with symptomatic people.
After infection, symptoms such as a rash with blisters will appear on the face, hands, feet, eyes, mouth or genitals. In addition, symptoms of fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, and muscle pain also appear.
(fea)
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