Neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago has recorded four cases of MPox, formerly known as Monkeypox, to date.
On July 12, 2023, the twin island recorded its first case, by July 18 three cases and yesterday its fourth.
The country said it is “managing the outbreak,” and in a statement indicated that the Ministry of Health has “ensured that all protocols for testing, contact tracing and isolation were implemented, inclusive of sensitisation of medical professionals,”
While “all three cases of the Mpox virus are in home isolation and do not require hospital care at this time,” the Caura Hospital has since been designated “as the facility to care for any patient that may require hospitalisation if necessary.”
The fourth case, an adult male, is in home isolation and the Ministry has commenced contact tracing.
The Ministry of Health there has also advised that while no vaccines have been administered “2,800 doses of the vaccine were procured to be administered to non-symptomatic close contacts and health care professionals in any facility where a patient would be warded.”
No cases were detected in its dependency Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago is the 113th country to record active Mpox cases since the current global outbreak was identified in May 2022 and peaked in August 2022.
Since the confirmation of the first case, health authorities in Grenada said they are closely monitoring the situation even while the Grenadian public has since not been informed of any suspected or confirmed cases. Nonetheless, Grenada’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shawn Charles appeals to the public to be vigilant and practice good hygiene.
He encourages the practice of physical distancing, washing and sanitizing of hands often, wearing
a mask when in the company of individuals from different households, and avoiding contact with people
with typical skin lesions, including with their clothing and bedding, especially as the carnival festive
season approaches.
The Mpox virus is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.
It can be transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with
contaminated material such as bedding. Mpox is also transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, and respiratory droplets. The main symptoms are fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
