…officials remain on alert
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - BARBADOS is the latest territory within the region to confirm at least one case of the Monkeypox virus, as health officials in the Caribbean heighten their surveillance and build capacity.
Confirmation of the territory's first case was made yesterday (Jul. 16) morning during a press conference by Health Minister Ian Gooding-Edghill, where it was revealed that the case is a male in his thirties with a travel history.
Like Jamaica and several other territories, Barbados has been building capacity internally to test for the ailment, and it was through that they were able to detect the case locally.
According to the Health Minister, the male was presented to the Winston Scott Polyclinic with symptoms of a rash, body pains and fever.
The United States Center for Disease (CDC) had indicated that the mentioned symptoms were signs of the virus which is contagious. And upon arriving in Bridgetown, the male presented himself at the medical facility seeking treatment for his symptoms.
Health officials revealed that he was swabbed and 24 hours later it was revealed that he was positive.
Following the case’s presence on the island, officials have begun the laborious task of contact tracing to prevent an outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had reported that symptoms of the virus could last from two to fours weeks and that it has a low fatality rate.
In St. Kitts and Nevis, officials are said to be closely monitoring the virus, and they are also keeping a close watch on the Coronavirus.
