Argentina Becomes First Country in Latin America to Confirm Monkeypox Cases | Here's What to Know

Argentina on Friday reported two individuals who tested positive for the monkeypox virus, becoming the first country in Latin America to report the presence of the disease.

According to Associated Press, the monkeypox virus was found in men who had recently arrived from Spain. Reuters reported that Argentina's Health Ministry confirmed that the first individual tested positive for the monkeypox virus through PCR testing.

The ministry said the first case was a man from the province of Buenos Aires who had traveled to Spain from April 28 through May 16.

On Sunday, the man reportedly had symptoms of monkeypox, including lesions and fever. People in close contact with the man were under clinical and epidemiological control, and none have shown symptoms so far.

The second case was a resident of Spain who has no connection to the first case. The Spanish citizen reportedly arrived in Argentina on Wednesday and developed ulcerous lesions the following day.

The ministry said both patients are in good health and are being isolated while receiving treatment. Authorities have revealed little about the individuals who tested positive for the disease.

Not Only in Argentina: WHO Says Nearly 200 Cases of Monkeypox Recorded Worldwide

The announcement that two men in Argentina were infected with the monkeypox virus came on the same day the World Health Organization (WHO) said nearly 200 cases of the disease had been reported in at least 20 countries.

These countries were not usually known to have outbreaks of the unusual disease. However, according to reports, the number seemed to be an "undercount" of the actual number of cases.

On Friday, Spanish authorities reported that the number of cases in their country rose to 98, including a woman whose infection was "directly related" to a chain of transmission previously limited to men.

Officials from the U.K. added 16 more new cases, making Britain's total 106. Portugal confirmed that its monkeypox cases were now 74.

In a public hearing held on Friday, WHO's director of pandemic and epidemic diseases, Dr. Sylvie Briand, said the first sequencing of the monkeypox virus showed that the strain is not different from those strains found in endemic countries.

According to Briand, the current situation appeared to be "containable" based on how past outbreaks of the disease in Africa have evolved.

"[But] we don't know if we are just seeing the peak of the iceberg [or] if there are many more cases that are undetected in communities," she added.

WHO Urges Countries to Act Now to Contain the Spread of Monkeypox Virus

WHO urged countries to take action now to contain the spread of the monkeypox virus.

"We think that if we put in place the right measures now we probably can contain this easily," Briand said. Measures needed against the disease include early detection, isolation of cases, and contact tracing.

Brian noted that member states should also share information about first-generation stockpiles of smallpox vaccines which can also be effective against the monkeypox.

WHO then advised countries to take targeted vaccination for close contact with people infected instead of mass vaccinations.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

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