🔬 Cayman Islands Ministry issues health advisories on Monkeypox and Oropouche virus

The Ministry of Health and Wellness in the Cayman Islands has issued health advisories on Monkeypox (Mpox) and the Oropouche virus, despite there being no confirmed cases of either disease in the islands. The advisories come in response to a surge of Mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its spread to neighboring countries, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Since the beginning of 2024, there have been over 15,000 cases and 511 deaths due to Mpox in the DRC. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the rash, scabs, bodily fluids, or respiratory droplets from an infected person. 🌍

Officials from the Ministry of Health and Wellness have met with representatives from various health institutions in the Cayman Islands to coordinate actions and overall preparedness. The Cayman Islands Molecular Biology Laboratory (CIMBL) has the capability to test locally for Mpox. While there is a vaccine for Mpox, its global supply is limited and is currently being directed to the outbreak in Africa. The ministry has prepared guidance for clinicians regarding suspected Mpox cases, emphasizing the importance of isolation and in-home quarantine measures. 🏥

Meanwhile, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued a warning about the risk of transmission of the Oropouche virus in Central and South America, and the Caribbean. The virus is transmitted to humans by the bite of a midge or certain mosquitoes, with symptoms similar to dengue. The Cayman Islands Molecular Biology Laboratory is currently developing the capacity to test for the Oropouche virus. Residents are advised to take precautions against mosquito bites and to destroy potential mosquito breeding sites. 🦟