In a follow-up story on the monkeypox outbreak in the Central African Republic (CAR), health officials say that no new monkeypox cases have been reported in Bangassou, according to a Journal De Bangui report (computer translated).

Monkeypox/CDC
Monkeypox/CDC

“All the patients we have received and which were isolated at the hospital here, are healed and have already returned to their families. So I can confirm that at this time, no cases of ill monkeypox virus is reported in Bangassou “, noted John Paul Ogbia.

The doctor spoke, however, a suspect case. John Paul Ogbia announced the arrival of a verification mission in Bakouma which is part of the disease , “the first two people who had presented this disease had come from Bakouma. We will organize a working mission in the coming days in this location to check the situation in the city “ he said.

The university hospital and health center in Bangassou had recorded six cases last January. Two patients died and others are cured. The monkeypox virus disease was detected in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2001 it was discovered in Central African Republic specifically in Mbomou.

The monkeypox virus can cause a fatal disease in humans; it is similar to human smallpox, although typically much less serious. The monkeypox virus is transmitted to people from a variety of wild animals and it spreads in human population through human-to-human transmission.

There is no treatment or vaccine available although smallpox vaccination has proven to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.