NewsDesk @bactiman63

The National Ministry of Health reports that the INEI-ANLIS Malbrán National Reference Laboratory confirmed on June 9 the first case of monkeypox with no history of travel in Argentina. This is a 36-year-old citizen residing in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires who is currently in good health, fulfilling the corresponding isolation and hospitalized for his care.

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The patient made the first consultation on June 6 at a private clinic in the city of Buenos Aires, with a report of the start date of symptoms on May 31, presenting headache and muscle pain, fever, back pain and developing vesicular rashes. starting June 2. On June 7, the case was reported and the sample was sent to the ANLIS Malbrán laboratory, which issued a positive PCR result on June 9.

This is the third confirmed case in the country. The three patients are in good health, with no complications. No secondary cases have been detected to date among close contacts.

Globally, as of June 8, 1,285 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported in 28 countries where monkeypox is not endemic. No deceased person has been registered to date in these countries. Since the beginning of the year, on the African continent, 1,536 suspected cases have been reported (1,356 correspond to the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and 72 deaths.

Monkeypox is spread from person to person by close contact with lesions, respiratory particles, and contaminated materials such as bedding. In the outbreaks recorded in Europe, the clinical presentation is generally described as mild, and most cases present -in the same way as the cases detected so far in Argentina- lesions in different parts of the body, including the genitals or the perigenital area. , indicating that transmission probably occurs through physical contact during sexual activities.

The classic symptoms are: fever, headache, muscle or back pain, swollen glands and tiredness. Between 1 and 5 days later, a rash is added to the skin, which goes through different stages until it forms a crust that then falls off. Infected people are contagious until all the scabs have fallen off.

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It is being observed in cases outside the African continent that the presentation may be atypical (presentation of only a few lesions or even a single lesion; lesions that begin in the genital or perineal/perianal area and do not spread further; lesions that appear at different stages (asynchronous) of development, and the appearance of lesions before the appearance of swollen lymph nodes, fever, malaise or other symptoms.

The modes of transmission during sexual contact remain unknown, while it is known that close physical contact can lead to transmission, it is unclear what role sexual body fluids, including semen and vaginal fluids, play in transmission.

Prevention measures include avoiding close contact with people with compatible symptoms (including intimate or sexual contact with people during the period of illness). It must be taken into account that the risk of transmission increases in sexual activities with multiple people, that is why those who have participated in this type of event should pay attention to their state of health during the next 21 days and make a medical consultation before the appearance of symptoms compatible with the disease.

Those people who present any of the symptoms described should consult immediately to be evaluated by a health professional, use a properly placed mask and avoid close contact with other people.