Guyana still waiting on Monkeypox vaccines from PAHO

Guyana is still awaiting the delivery of Monkeypox vaccines it ordered via the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in September last year, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Narine Singh, told the News Room on Thursday.

Some 1,800 monkeypox vaccine doses were ordered after Guyana confirmed its first case last year and on Thursday, Dr Singh reiterated that Guyana is capable of testing for the virus.

Trinidad and Tobago confirmed two cases of the virus this week prompting Guyana’s political Opposition to issue a call for travel advisories to be put in place.

The authorities here have not stated whether people are being screened at the airports or other ports of entry and the Ministry of Health has been mum on the serious issue.

Dr Singh, nonetheless, indicated that the ministry will issue a statement later on Thursday.

A 57-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a woman in her 30s, were infected with the virus here in August of last year. The patients were isolated and the local health authorities started the process of contact tracing and testing. The pair were eventually deemed non-infectious and sent home from the hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of July 4, 2023, 88,144 Monkeypox cases have been detected globally amongst 112 countries and there has been a total of 149 deaths.

The virus can range from mild disease to severe illness and is spread through close contact or through respiratory droplets.

Common signs and symptoms may include a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. Anyone experiencing these symptoms is advised to visit their nearest health facility.