issued an epidemiological alert on Friday to public and private health institutions in the country following the confirmation of 12 cases abroad in the United Kingdom, Portugal and the United States in order to identify, notify and investigate compatible cases of monkeypox.
Likewise, said entity explained that the first case identified in the United Kingdom is associated with travel to West Africa, unlike the rest of the cases which are still under investigation.
Incubation period
In addition, the agency specifies that said infection comprises two periods: the first, known as the “invasion period”, which lasts between 0 and 5 days. She presents symptoms such as: fever, intense headaches, lymphadenopathy, lumbar pain, myalgia and intense asthenia.
The second period of “skin rash” lasts between 1 and 3 days — after the onset of fever; that is, when the different phases of the rash appear, which usually affects the face first and then spreads to the rest of the body.
Minsa recommends the following:
Upon identification of a compatible case of monkeypox, health officials should expand epidemiological research, including contact identification and tracing. Diagnoses of syphilis, chickenpox, rubella, measles, herpes simplex 1 and 2 should also be ruled out.
For the diagnosis, three (3) types of samples will be taken into account:
-Serum
– Swab skin lesions (fluid from vesicles or pustules and lesion bed) into a Dacron swab.
– Sampling of dry scabs, or of skin covering the lesion.
Using these samples, the following tests should be performed:
-PCR (real-time) in swab samples of lesions and scabs or skin.
-Serology for the detection of antibodies.
The Directorates of Integrated Health Networks (Diris), the Regional Directorates of Health (Diresa), the Regional Directorates of Health Management (Geresa), the Social Health Insurance System (EsSalud), the Armed Forces, the Police and the private sector must disseminate this alert to individuals and public health establishments within their jurisdiction.
Health professionals must report any case compatible with monkeypox to the heads of the epidemiology services of health establishments, according to the procedures established by Health Directive No. 047-MINSA/DGE-V.01 entitled “Health Directive for the declaration outbreaks, epidemics and other events of public health importance.
