Mexico Monkeypox Case Confirmed! [Symptoms, Transmission, Potential Vaccines, and Treatment]

Mexico confirmed its first case of the monkeypox virus, according to the country's top health official.

Mexico's deputy health secretary, Hugo Lopez-Gatell, took to Twitter on Saturday to announce the devastating news about the country's first monkeypox case, per Reuters.

"Today we confirm the first imported case of monkeypox in Mexico," Lopez-Gatell highlighted in his post.

The deputy health secretary went on to say that the individual stricken by the virus was a native of New York City, and they suspect that he got it in the Netherlands. Lopez-Gatell furthered that the man was being treated in Mexico City. The deputy health secretary then announced the condition of the man who caught the monkeypox virus.

"Fortunately, he is stable and in preventive isolation. We hope he recovers without complications," Lopez-Gatell noted.

The official then educated the people about how monkeypox spreads, claiming that direct contact from an individual who has it will only allow transmission. He further noted that the virus is not spread by air and food and the efficiency of contagion is low, that's why there are small outbreaks instead of generalized pandemics.

Other Monkeypox Cases in Latin America

The Mexico monkeypox case came days after Argentina also reported positive cases of the disease among two people, making the country the first to contract the disease in Latin America.

Reports claimed that the Argentina cases of monkeypox were from men who had recently arrived from Spain.

The two individuals had lesions on their skin, and the close contact with one of the patients has shown no symptoms so far. Information about the close contact of the second patient was not mentioned by the authorities.

Argentina's health ministry assured that the individuals are in good health and are being isolated and receiving treatment.

Monkeypox: Symptoms and Cure That People Should Be Aware

Healthline reported that there are only around 200 confirmed cases of the monkeypox virus, and health experts are starting to investigate the spread and implication of the disease to the public.

"This is a virus that belongs to the same group as the smallpox virus; however, it's a much milder and less deadly form of it," Vanderbilt University Medical Center Infectious Disease Expert Sr. William Schaffner said.

Dr. Jeremy Walker, an assistant professor at the University of Alabaman in Birmingham Division of Infectious Disease, said that there are two types of monkeypox: the West African and the Central American form.

Walker underscored that the West African form appears to be less severe and has a lower case of fatality rate than the Central African form. West African form is found among the samples tested by PCR, according to WHO.

Reports claimed that the initial symptoms of the monkeypox virus are flu-like that show up for about two weeks after being infected.

Schaffner underscored that prominent fever, body aches and pains, headache, and fatigue are also evident among monkeypox patients. Enlarged lymph nodes among patients will also take place while the body is fighting off the symptom.

Then, rashes will appear on hands, feet, face, mouth, and even genitals. The rashes will then transform into a raised bump or painful puss-filled red papules.

Schaffner underscored that the monkeypox virus transmits through respiratory droplets that require prolonged face-to-face or close contact with other individuals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that there is "currently" no proven safe treatment against the monkeypox virus, contending that most people survive without any intervention.

Meanwhile, the FDA has approved vaccines for monkeypox transmission, However, it has not been used in for general population in almost 50 years.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: What to Know About Monkeypox - From ABC News