In recent hours, the Ministry of Health indicated that to date Colombia has no suspected cases of monkeypox, despite warnings from the World Health Organization, WHO, and has welcomed Peru, where there are no confirmed cases either.

Monkeypox, which is not new, has been on the rise since May 15 in some countries, which is why the WHO declared a health warning. With the cuts to May 20, 66 cases have been registered in 11 countries such as Spain, Portugal and the UK where deaths linked to the virus have not been reported.

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Director of Epidemiology and Demographics of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Claudia Cuéllar, detailed that smallpox is a viral zoonotic disease which, according to WHO, occurs in tropical forest areas of central and west Africa, although it is sometimes exported. to another region.

“It is important to remember that this virus is transmitted from one person to another through close contact with wounds, body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials such as bedding,” Cuéllar said.

He also reported that currently in Colombia the risk level is moderate so that in accordance with WHO recommendations, monitoring and control measures are needed because of the possibility of the virus with the current prevalence in Spain and Portugal spreading to other countries. .country.

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Ministry of Health officials indicated that the state had the capacity to detect this smallpox, through the National Institute of Health, INS reference laboratory.

For its part, the WHO, so far, has not issued any type of travel restrictions to countries such as Portugal, Sweden, the UK or other affected countries, according to available information.

Symptoms of monkeypox include rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and fatigue.