The Ministry of Health & Wellness has issued an advisory for mpox, formerly called monkeypox, in light of a World Health Organization announcement, calling a current outbreak of the illness a public health emergency of international concern.
While there are no confirmed cases of mpox in the Cayman Islands, there has been an upsurge of cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries, the WHO warned on Wednesday. That announcement prompted Cayman Islands officials to issue the local notice.
“It is important for us to be cognisant that the risk of Mpox virus to the Cayman Islands is increasing,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nick Gent in a press release. “In light of this, we want to ensure that all of us – medical professionals and members of the public – are aware of this risk, and that cases presenting with relevant symptoms are tested and appropriate control measures are taken.”
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been 15,000 cases and 511 deaths this year from mpox, considered endemic to countries in central and west Africa. The outbreak, however, has reached previously unaffected regions and surpassed the total number of cases in 2023.
Cases have been reported for the first time in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. More than 100 cases have been confirmed through laboratory testing in these countries in the past month, according to the WHO.
The disease is spread by direct contact with an mpox rash or scabs, bodily fluids and respiratory droplets from a person with mpox, Dr. Gent said. 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.
“Following fever, a mild to severe rash can develop, most commonly on the hands and feet, but also in the genital and perianal areas. The rash goes through different stages before forming a scab,” the Ministry of Health & Wellness said.
Ministry officials met on Thursday to discuss control measures and testing with Health City Cayman Islands, Doctors Hospital, Faith Hospital and the Health Services Authority, including HSA’s General Practice, Urgent Care, Public Health Department and the Cayman Islands Molecular Biology Laboratory. The HSA laboratory is able to test locally for mpox.
The ministry will be issuing guidance to clinicians on detection and actions to be taken if mpox is suspected.
“Isolation of cases and close contacts is an essential measure given the infectiousness of this virus, so in-home quarantine measures will form part of the public health response. However, the HSA has identified a new suite of clinical rooms that include individual care rooms that would be suitable for any cases that need hospitalisation,” the ministry said.
Currently, the limited global supply of mpox vaccines is being directed to affected parts of Africa and immunization is not being recommended locally.
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