The health district of Mbaïki in Lobaye prefecture has confirmed one case of monkeypox, according to a Journal De Bangui report (computer translated).

Monkeypox/CDC
Monkeypox/CDC

According to Dr. Honoré Yangana, head of health district of Mbaïki, the case was confirmed in a child on Apr. 12:  “Considering the signs that the patient presented, we suspected the monkeypox virus. We took the sample to send to the Institut Pasteur in Bangui, and the result came back positive.”

No provision for prevention and response has yet been taken in the town and the prefecture of Lobaye.

A monkeypox outbreak was declared in the Central African Republic last September at Dalakere village, Réou 4 and 5 in the sub-prefecture of Mingala in Lower Kotto, of which 19 cases were recorded. The outbreak was declared over in January.

There is also a monkeypox outbreak in Congo that was declared on Mar. 13.

According to the CDC, the symptoms of monkeypox are as follows: About 12 days after people are infected with the virus, they will get a fever, headache, muscle aches, and backache; their lymph nodes will swell; and they will feel tired. One to 3 days (or longer) after the fever starts, they will get a rash. This rash develops into raised bumps filled with fluid and often starts on the face and spreads, but it can start on other parts of the body too. The bumps go through several stages before they get crusty, scab over, and fall off. The illness usually lasts for 2 to 4 weeks.

Rodents, such as rope squirrels, door mice and pouched rats, are the suspected reservoir hosts, with monkeys and humans as secondary, spill-over hosts.

People at risk for monkeypox are those who get bitten by an infected animal or if you have contact with the animal’s rash, blood or body fluids. It can also be transmitted person to person through respiratory or direct contact and contact with contaminated bedding or clothing.

There is no specific treatment for monkeypox.

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