Ship isolated in Santa Fe: crew member who showed symptoms confirmed not to have monkeypox

Upon learning of a suspected case of monkeypox on a ship in Santa Fe, the protocol for an emergency public health of international interest (ESPII) was activated, and medical monitoring of the entire crew and pilot personnel was requested on board (REUTERS/Tomas Cuesta)

A Liberian-flagged ship that arrived in the country from Brazil and was sailing on the Paraná River was isolated yesterday a few kilometers from the city of Rosario after a suspected case of monkeypox was detected in the crew.

After the results of the clinical tests were known, the authorities of the Government of the province of Santa Fe confirmed to Infobae that the man has chickenpox and monkeypox was ruled out.

“The diagnosis is varicella zoster, the test was negative for monkeypox. The way of contagion in these diseases is different,” said the director of Health Promotion and Prevention of Santa Fe, Analía Chumpitaz, in statements to the newspaper La Capital.

The Ministry of Health of the Nation reported in a statement that laboratory tests were negative for monkeypox and yielded a “positive diagnosis for chickenpox.”

“In coordination with the medical service contracted by the maritime company and the Epidemiology department, the pertinent serological evaluation measures will be taken for the crew and medical controls will continue,” added the health ministry headed by Mario Russo.

Monkeypox, Mpox or monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus, which is transmitted from animals to humans and can also be transmitted from one person to another through skin-to-skin physical contact (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo)

WHO warns that it is not always easy to identify monkeypox, as other infections and conditions can look similar. “It is important to distinguish it from chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, herpes, syphilis, other sexually transmitted infections and drug allergies. Laboratory testing is therefore essential to ensure that patients are treated as soon as possible and to prevent further spread.”

The Ina Lotte ship was stranded yesterday in the port of San Lorenzo due to the suspected case. Upon being informed of the situation, Border Health activated the public health emergency protocol of international interest (ESPII).

This morning, Chumpitaz had anticipated that the results of the clinical tests were essential: “A sample was taken from the suspected case on the ship to make the diagnosis. Yesterday, a person from the Border Health Unit boarded the ship (to carry out a check on the entire crew). The ship does not have free speech, that is, no one can get off the ship until it is determined whether it is a confirmed or ruled out case,” the provincial official explained during a press conference at the Rosario municipal headquarters.

“Only one person had compatible signs, so a sample of those lesions was taken,” he said.

The ship “Ina-Lotte” from the city of Santos, Brazil, flies the flag of Liberia (REUTERS/Tomas Cuesta)

The Director of Health Promotion and Prevention of Santa Fe confirmed during this morning’s conference the detection of a new case of monkeypox in the Rosario department, Santa Fe, which corresponds to a 34-year-old man who reported a history of travel abroad and received care at a private health center. Given the laboratory confirmation, and taking into account his good evolution, the patient is being monitored on an outpatient basis, with an indication of isolation.

This new case is not related to the situation of the ship. With this announcement, there are now 9 cases of monkeypox recorded in the country.

A ship on the Paraná River was isolated due to a case of monkeypox

The presence of the suspected infected person on board was reported by the captain, who indicated that there was “a person who was suffering from serious discomfort and who required medical assistance.”

The request was made when the ship, coming from Santos, Brazil, was heading to the oil complex in search of grain and was passing through the port of San Nicolás, province of Buenos Aires, heading to Santa Fe. A medical boat was in charge of disembarking the sick crew member, who was transferred to a hospital in the area to perform the relevant clinical tests. In the meantime, the ship continued its journey, and the crew member was placed in isolation.

The Ministry of Health of the Nation reported yesterday that the hospitalized crew member had “skin lesions with a vesicular appearance predominantly on the trunk and face, compatible with symptoms of monkeypox, for which reason he was isolated from the rest of the crew” and emphasized that in Argentina “there have not yet been registered cases with the new variant of monkeypox clade Ib from Africa, which is a public health event of international importance.”

In response to Infobae’s query, sources from the Ministry of Health of the Nation indicated that epidemiological surveillance is carried out and “monitoring of flights from Africa and ships. If the presence of passengers or crew with monkeypox symptoms is noted, the protocols are followed. They work together with Immigration and have the API (Application Programming Interface) system, which is advance information about the passenger that tells us where they have been in the last six months and if they presented symptoms on the plane.

Mpox is known as monkeypox or smallpox of the monkey (National Geographic)

Monkeypox can manifest itself in a variety of ways, with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe complications and even death. The most common signs are skin rashes that remain on the skin for 2 to 4 weeks, causing blisters or sores, accompanied by fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headaches and swollen lymph nodes.

These manifestations can appear in different parts of the body, and some people may develop complications such as proctitis or difficulties urinating.

“These symptoms may disappear on their own within a few weeks of contracting the disease; during this period, the patient should be provided with palliative care to reduce pain and fever,” the WHO said.

The Ministry of Health of Santa Fe stressed that if you have had close contact with a person who has monkeypox or suspects it, or if you have compatible symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention early, avoid close contact with other people and wash your hands frequently. Do not share personal items such as sheets, towels, clothing and utensils.

“People with monkeypox should follow the instructions of their health team. Symptoms often resolve on their own without the need for treatment. It is important not to self-medicate and to always follow the prescribed medical treatment,” the provincial authorities stressed.