Ecuador's health ministry announced yesterday, Friday, the first "suspected" case of monkey pox in the country, involving a man who had recently travelled to Africa.
The patient "presented symptoms related to the disease, such as fever and skin lesions," said the health ministry statement, which underlined that the man in question is in isolation and his contacts are being traced.
The ministry also says that samples were taken from the patient to laboratory confirm whether it is monkeypox.
Ecuadorian health authorities ordered about 1.000 monkeypox detection tests, which are expected to arrive in the South American country next week.
They advised citizens, in case of "suspicious symptoms", to go to the nearest health centre wearing a protective mask, isolate themselves and avoid public places, family gatherings, school and work.
Earlier yesterday, Friday, Argentine authorities confirmed they had identified the first case of monkeypox in Latin America and were investigating another "suspected" case, according to the health ministry.
The symptoms of monkeypox are similar but usually milder than smallpox, which was eradicated in the late 1970s, and include fever, headache, myalgia, chills, fatigue, swollen glands and skin rashes.
[BR][BR]Source: First Theme
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