On the heels of an active carnival observation, authorities in Saint Lucia are managing 6 suspected cases of monkeypox.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, of the 6 suspected cases, 4 of the individuals have no travel history.
All six of the individuals remain in isolation as they await the results of a monkeypox test.
In the meantime, an epidemiology unit is conducting contact tracing based on the recent whereabouts of these individuals.
This is the most suspected cases to be reported by a single country in the region to date, and although Saint Lucia had previously confirmed one case of the virus – a flight crew member – this is the first evidence of possible in-country transmission.
Saint. Lucia’s Ministry of Health has not yet released any details as to the demographic of the suspected cases or how they were identified.
The past few weeks have been packed with high-contact social events, which culminated with a two-day national parade on July 18 and 19.
These festivities not only drew Saint Lucians from across the country, but also a significant number of nationals from the diaspora and tourists.
Despite COVID 19 prevention and control measures including mask wearing and social distancing still in effect in Saint Lucia, witnesses on the ground report a very low compliance rate at Carnival events.
Saint Lucians, and visitors to the country, are being urged to be conscious of the possible exposure to the monkeypox virus or the development of symptoms.
“The disease is characterised by the onset of fever, headache, back pain, muscle ache, weakness, swollen lymph nodes and a rash that progresses through several stages from being flat and red to small raised bumps like pimples. These then change to fluid filled vesicles that become pus-filled before drying to form scabs which fall off as new skin forms,” the ministry stated.
“The ministry of health is encouraging persons who develop these symptoms to go to the nearest healthcare facility for evaluation,” the statement continued.
The Ministry of Health has urged persons not to panic and assured that the possibility of the infectious disease spreading through the community was greatly limited due to the rapid identification and isolation of the suspected cases.