Panama confirms fourth case of monkeypox

A 25-year-old foreigner living in Panama has become the country’s fourth confirmed case of monkeypox the Ministry of Health (Minsa) confirmed on Tuesday, August 16.

The patient had contact, on July 26 outside the country, with a person who tested positive for monkeypox.

This patient began the symptoms with fever, which occurred on August 12; the next day multiple vesicular lesions appeared. On August 15, he went to the Parque Lefevre polycenter, where samples were taken and sent to the Gorgas Commemorative Institute for Health Studies, where the result came out positive.

According to Minsa, the patient is in home isolation since his physical condition is good.

On May 24, Panama declared a health alert throughout the country due to monkeypox epidemiological surveillance was redoubled in all health regions and all entry points in the national territory.

Monkeypox is a virus that is spread from person to person by direct contact with skin lesions of an infected person, contact with infected secretions from the respiratory tract, or with objects, fabrics (clothes, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by a sick person. Among its symptoms are fever, headache, swollen glands, lumbar pain, muscle pain, and lack of energy. The symptoms of this disease can last from five to 21 days.

Data reported by the World Health Organization indicate that the majority of cases correspond to men; 93% of these are between 25 and 45 years of age, one of the main routes of transmission being close contact during sexual intercourse. Therefore, it is recommended to practice safe sex and avoid having sex with multiple partners, the Minsa statement highlighted.

There are currently almost 32,000 affected by monkeypox in 89 countries.