Belize Steps Up Preparations for Monkeypox Virus to Land in Belize – Love FM Belize News and Music Power

Belize health officials are stepping up their preparedness for an outbreak of the monkeypox virus (MPox, formerly known as monkeypox). The disease, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a health emergency of international concern, has two variants with varying degrees of symptoms. The new Clade 1b variant is spreading in Africa but has not yet been found in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean or Belize. Love News has learned that Mexico has confirmed cases of the Clade II variant, but the National Epidemiological Defense Committee has warned of a possible outbreak of MPox in the country. Belize Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard said authorities are watching closely and have equipment in place for vaccinations and testing.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness “Remember, we as a department always make sure that we are monitoring for every issue, every epidemiological issue that could arise. Monkeypox has been around, I think, for over a year now. If you ask me, we do have monkeypox vaccine in stock just in case. But when you look at the advice, including from CARPHA, all they say is continue to make sure that your surveillance is going on, which we are doing. We have the capability to detect monkeypox domestically, so I am very confident that the people in our department are prepared. I don’t want to sound alarmist because at the end of the day, I think that’s a Swedish thing. However, our department makes sure that we have everything in place so that if there is any need, we are fully prepared to respond to any issues that may arise.”

The Belize Ministry of Health and Wellness has also begun re-sensitizing health care workers, as well as surveillance and border teams. MPox first causes a fever, followed by a severe headache, inflamed lymph nodes, back pain and lack of energy, and small blisters may appear on the skin three to five days after infection. It is a zoonosis, meaning it can be transmitted from vertebrates to humans. It can also be spread from person to person through physical contact, and human-to-human transmission has increased since 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control.