Monkeypox Detection in Belize is “only a matter of time”
Monkeypox preventative measures are similar to COVID-19 preventative measures. Health experts recommend that you avoid contact with infected persons, that infected persons isolate themselves at home, that you practice the washing of hands and the wearing of masks. While the World Health Organization has not recommended mass vaccination, the Government of Belize is in talks with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to procure a small batch of Monkeypox vaccines, according to Doctor Musa. Melissa Diaz-Musa
Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director of Public Health Services
“There is no definitive reason or link to explain why it has spread, but the hypothesis from experts are saying that perhaps during the COVID lockdown there was some kind of spread that had gone undetected due to all our resources, all the lockdown, the emphasis that health systems places on COVID, other diseases were moving around without us being able to detect it early. So, of course we have got to keep in mind that travel has become much easier over a few years. We have had the lockdown. We don’t know what has occurred over the few years in these countries that were endemic during the lockdown. Then travelling started to reopen over the last year or so, that is more than likely when the spread begun.”
Paul Lopez
“What are the chances or likelihood, or would you say that it is inevitable that Monkeypox will reach Belize?”
Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director of Public Health Services
“Well, if we look at the trend and that more and more countries are making the diagnosis, and travelling is very accessible to many people, it is easy, it might just be a matter of time that we get a case. Of course, I would just be speculating. There is no definitive answer to that. We are seeing that countries that have reported, Jamaica was about two weeks ago, the same with the Bahamas, we haven’t seen that anybody else, even the close contacts have tested positive as yet. So, it is not a disease like COVID in terms of the transmissibility is not as high. You need very close contact with that person. if you can recall with COVID in the offices or work places you would see transmission going on there. In the case of Monkeypox, it is close contact.”
