This is what we know about the first case detected in Mexico – El Financiero

This Saturday began with bad news in our country and that is that the Ministry of Health reported that there is first case of monkey pox in Mexico. We tell you what we know so far:

• The infected person is a 50-year-old man.
• So far, the infected person has mild symptoms and is isolated as a preventive measure.
• The patient is treated in Mexico City.
• The man resides in New York and it is suspected that he was infected in the Netherlands.
• The diagnosis It is performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in samples of skin lesions.

Against this background, the health authorities issued a series of recommendations to avoid contagious:

• Frequently wash your hands with water, soap or antibacterial gel.
• When you are around a sick person, you should wear a face covering; especially if he is coughing.
• Avoid sharing objects for personal use if it is detected that someone has lesions in the mouth.
• Wash clothing, towels, sheets, and eating utensils that the sick person has had contact with.

How to know if you are a suspected case? Federal Government responds

According to the Conave, “any person, of any age, with an unexplained acute skin or mucosal rash progressing from the face with spread to the rest of the body” will be a suspected case of monkeypox. In addition, the following symptoms are indicators of having contracted the disease.

• Headache (headache).
• Acute onset fever (greater than 38.5 degrees).
• lymphadenopathy (glands in the neck derived from fever).
• Muscle pain (myalgias).
• back and leg pain (lumbalgias).
• chronic tiredness (Asthenia).

Other aspects to consider:

• travel history to a country endemic for this disease or with registered cases.
• Epidemiological link: direct physical exposure with a confirmed or probable case involving skin contact, skin lesions, sexual contact; or contact with fomites such as personal clothing or utensils.

These aspects increase the possibility of having contracted monkeypoxespecially if they occur at least 21 days before symptoms occur.