Trinidad and Tobago: Confirmed monkeypox (mpox) case reported on July 11

Event

Health officials reported the first confirmed monkeypox (mpox) activity in Trinidad and Tobago on July 11. The patient is a middle-­aged male with travel-related history who was tested on July 11. Contact tracing has been implemented. The Ministry of Health has advised anyone experiencing symptoms to visit their nearest health facility. Health officials urge the public to maintain good hygiene practices such as hand washing or sanitizing where appropriate. The mpox vaccine is available in Trinidad and Tobago but only for contacts of known positives. As disease surveillance and contact tracing continue, officials will likely identify additional cases in the coming weeks. This represents the most complete information available as of July 12.

Context

Human-to-human transmission occurs among people in close physical contact, with the increase in recent cases linked to sexual contact, suggesting that the virus linked to the disease can be sexually transmitted. The current outbreak highlights the importance of vigilant safe sexual practices and suggests mpox can be transmitted while the infected person displays few or no symptoms; however, the risk is currently assessed as low for individuals not routinely engaging with multiple or anonymous sexual partners.

Mpox does not naturally occur in Trinidad and Tobago; most cases are reported in West and Central Africa, primarily in the DRC, Nigeria, and Cameroon, among individuals who report contact with wild rodents or other mammals which may harbor the disease.

Mpox is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. However, monkeypox is not the same as smallpox and does not have the same capacity for human-to-human transmission. Mpox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected rodents or primates. Human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through close personal contact with an infected individual via respiratory droplets, direct contact with bodily fluids, or indirect contact with lesion material - e.g., contaminated clothing or bedding. Symptoms typically appear 6-16 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle and back aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.

Advice

Practice basic health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding obviously ill individuals. Avoid overcrowded areas and consider using safe sexual practices, such as physical barriers (condoms), in countries reporting mpox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas. Vaccines are available but limited.