The National Academy of Medicine (ANM) of Venezuela reiterated its call to declare a health alarm in the country following the notification of two more cases of monkeypox (monkeypox) on August 24.
Through a statement shared on his webthe ANM highlighted that a declaration of health emergency in the country would allow resources to be mobilized and take action with civil society and non-governmental organizations.
The academics had already called on the authorities to “act energetically” in their communiqué of last July 25.
In this new communication, the ANM also urged strengthen capacity for laboratory diagnosis and genetic monitoring of the virus. He also urged the development of active epidemiological surveillance programs.
The Academy’s board of directors also recommended starting the appropriate due diligence to ensure future access to antiviral drugs and vaccines.
“Non-governmental organizations, key elements in the effort to control the outbreak, are already beginning to mobilize, so in addition to any border surveillance strategy a great effort must be made to identify cases of local transmission”added the ANM.
Cases in Venezuela and the world
Venezuela accumulates in total 3 cases of monkeypox. The first, confirmed on June 12, was a traveler who arrived in the country from Spain. The next two reports correspond to a person who arrived in the country from Peru and another who arrived from Brazil.
From the start of the monkeypox outbreak in May through August 24, 96 countries and territories reported more than 41 thousand cases of the disease and 12 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which declared its spread as a Public Health Emergency of International Importance.
In the region of the Americas alone, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), more than 23,000 cases have been detected and 3 deaths have been confirmed. The countries with the most cases are the United States, Brazil, Peru and Canada.
