A fake news story purporting to be a Cayman Compass article about mpox, formerly called monkeypox, being detected in the community is circulating on social media.
The bogus story falsely claims that there have been two confirmed cases of mpox.
The Ministry of Health & Wellness, in a statement on Wednesday, confirmed that there are no cases of disease in the Cayman Islands, which was recently declared a public health emergency of international concern.
The article does not originate with the Compass which is advising anyone who receives a link to this story not to click on it.
Readers are encouraged to check the URL of any story purporting to originate from the Compass to ensure it includes ‘caymancompass.com’.
Social media sites, including Facebook and Instagram, also offer users the option to report suspicious posts or accounts as fake.
The fake story was also flagged by the Ministry of Health & Wellness on Wednesday.
It advised the public of the “fabricated ‘news report’” being circulating via email, WhatsApp and social media.
Mpox is spread by direct contact with an mpox rash or scabs, bodily fluids and respiratory droplets from a person with mpox.
It can also be passed through sexual contact, from a pregnant mother to the baby and through contact with infected materials like towels and bedding.
Mpox symptoms include fever, headache, low energy and muscle ache.
Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has said there have been no cases of this illness in its member states, but it “is monitoring the situation closely. The current risk to Caribbean population from mpox clade 1b is low to moderate.”
Related Videos
