Santo Domingo.– Following the confirmation of two cases of monkeypox at a police station in San Cristóbal, the Ministry of Public Health is maintaining active epidemiological surveillance, while public interest grows regarding how this disease manifests and its forms of transmission.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is an infection caused by a virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus, the same family to which the virus that caused human smallpox belongs.
It is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Its appearance is mainly related to contact with infected animals, although it can also spread between humans.
One of the most characteristic signs of this disease is skin lesions or rashes, which can appear on different parts of the body, including the face, hands, and feet.
Initial symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and back pain. After the onset of fever, skin lesions may appear, which evolve into scabs before disappearing.
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The duration of the infection is usually between two and four weeks. In most cases, patients present mild symptoms and manage to recover without major complications.
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Transmission occurs primarily through close contact with an infected person, especially by having direct contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory secretions, or contaminated materials such as clothing and personal items.
The virus can also pass from animals to humans through contact with infected species, which is why health authorities recommend avoiding the handling of animals that may show signs of illness.
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Specialists indicate that people who present symptoms compatible with the disease should go to health services and provide information about possible exposures, recent travel, or contact with suspected cases.
Although there is no widely available specific treatment to eliminate the virus, prevention measures and the isolation of confirmed cases are important tools to limit its spread.
Smallpox vaccination has been shown to offer some level of protection against mpox, due to the relationship between both viruses, although its use depends on the recommendations of health authorities.
Health organizations continue to monitor the behavior of this disease internationally, especially given the increase in cases recorded in some regions in recent years.
