Barbados reports no active mpox cases, health officials clarify

Health authorities have confirmed there are no active mpox cases on the island, dispelling concerns raised by a circulating statement claiming otherwise.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Arthur Phillips clarified on Thursday that the statement in question was outdated, originally made by then Minister of Health Ian Gooding-Edghill, on July 22, 2022 when a sole case of mpox was reported.

Providing an update on the virus, Dr Phillips said: “Since the initial case in 2022, there have been two additional imported cases. One was recorded in January 2024, and the second one, six weeks ago. Contact tracing indicates that there was no in-country spread.”

The Ministry of Health announced last week that it had heightened surveillance measures for mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) designation of the virus as a public health emergency of international concern.

Mpox is described as a highly infectious disease spread through close contact, including intimate or sexual contact with an infected person, and through contact with contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing. The illness typically begins with flu-like symptoms followed by a characteristic rash.

Dr Phillips noted that the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) advised that vaccines are not currently required in low-risk settings such as Barbados. But he emphasised that the nation, as part of a global community, is not exempt from the possibility of mpox and other public health threats.

The Ministry of Health gave an assurance to the public that it will continue to take all reasonable measures to protect against the importation and spread of mpox.

The viral infection that causes pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms, is usually mild but can kill. It primarily spreads through close contact between individuals, as well as occasionally through contaminated surfaces. 

Amid a growing outbreak in Africa, a variant of mpox was confirmed last week in Sweden, the first sign of its spread outside the continent. The WHO declared the recent outbreak a public health emergency of international concern after the new variant was identified.

First identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970, mpox has since become endemic in parts of Central and West Africa. A significant global outbreak occurred in 2022, prompting the World Health Organisation to declare it a public health emergency. 

Vaccines are available and recommended for individuals at high risk of exposure, although mass vaccination is not currently advised. (LG)