The Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed a fourth case of Monkeypox in the country and has indicated its intention to give weekly updates on the numbers detected.
The latest patient has no recent travel history and is now isolated at home. The parish health department has started its contact tracing.
“This new case has been classified as locally transmissioned, that is, the patient has had no recent travel history and was not in contact with the three previously announced cases,” said the MOHW.
The first case was a man visiting from the United Kingdom, while the second victim was visiting from New York and travelled to a community in Clarendon. The third case, confirmed last week, was the first locally transmissioned.
“It in a sense changes the complexion of the challenge that we face. Having said that, it was anticipated that sooner or later, we would have local transmission,” health minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said after announcing the third case.
He noted then that a technical team was consulting with bi-lateral and multi-lateral partners, and meetings would be held with the medical team in respective parishes. The technical team was to also discuss concerns regarding vaccines, contact tracing and quarantine.
Routine weekly updates on the status of Monkeypox in Jamaica will be issued on Mondays going forward via the MOHW website and social media platforms.
“Other modes of communication will also be utilized as necessary to complement the public education campaign and community engagement activations,” MOHW stated.
