The Ministry of Health in Antigua and Barbuda has announced a decisive move to fortify the nation’s defences against the potential threat of Mpox.
In a statement released today, the Ministry outlined “a multistakeholder approach to increase surveillance at the ports of entry and at health care facilities across the country” to prevent the introduction of the virus.
This action comes in the wake of the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring Mpox a public health emergency of international concern on August 14.
Responding swiftly to this global alert, the Minister of Health, Molwyn Joseph, convened an emergency meeting with the Health Disaster Executive of the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment (MOHWSTE) on August 15.
The Health Disaster Executive, a body formed before the COVID-19 pandemic, is tasked with overseeing and coordinating responses to health emergencies and disasters in Antigua and Barbuda.
Comprised of senior officials within the MOHWSTE, the executive engaged with a broad spectrum of stakeholders during the emergency meeting.
Led by the Minister of Health, the gathering included the Chief Medical Officer, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Permanent Secretaries, Medical Officers of Health, Principal Nursing Officer, Public Health Nurse Epidemiologist, and other key health officials.
Also present were representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority, Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority, Department of Immigration, Customs and Excise Division, Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, and the Antigua and Barbuda Emergency Medical Services.
In addition to heightened surveillance measures, the Ministry confirmed that the “laboratory of Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre is equipped to conduct diagnostic testing of suspected cases, should the need arise.”
The Ministry also provided vital information about Mpox, describing it as “a disease caused by the monkeypox virus which is similar to the smallpox virus.”
Symptoms typically include fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain, back pain, and fatigue. The public is urged to seek immediate medical attention if experiencing these symptoms.
The virus spreads through direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated objects, and can also be transmitted from mother to unborn child.
Whilst there is no specific treatment for Mpox, prevention is crucial. The Ministry advises the public “that frequent handwashing, and routine wet cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces may prevent infection.”
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Lol and so it begins again… 2 wks to flatten the curve!? Lol let’s see how blind and deaf the people really are.
Port surveillance for Mpox?!?! Whilst Antiguans have been calling out for years that the port authorities protect our borders from importation of drugs, guns and illegal immigrants.
Are we living in an IDIOCRACY?
Seems so …
How exactly are they going to conduct this surveillance? The immigration officers and Port workers are now medics? This is all part of the plan folks.
I wouldn’t trust WHO,PAHO,or Molwyn Joseph and his so-called health officials as far as I could throw them all. Lol.
What about our 2.16 million dollars cemetery, Molwyn? Isn’t that deserving of an emergency meeting? We need a place to bury our ever increasing dead.The man is a joke.
The real virus are all those criminals in the helm and the ill beggers (for all the mean,BE RICH and psicopats) health care servants (of course,not all of them.
Feel free to follow and link the botton H..è for your 2 pennies masters…all the time the blackiea want become good servant of the wh..è master..at the end…their future monkey-mongrols never be wh…te..never!!!
Yep, these fools at work again.. 😂. You just have to laugh at these people. @Brix. These folks don’t give a damn about the nation, so stopping criminals and the money flow were never a part of their agenda.
A lot of money is in corruption, and these greedy bastards will never give that up..so protecting the boarder is not in their best interest…never was.
Ask Gatson where the $40mil from Apha Nero sale, and I’m sure you wouldn’t get a straight answer.. 😂
It’s shingles and known to be side effect of the pseudo vaccine. period.
There is a money vaccine for poverty but it will never be addressed but these hypocrites talking about monkey pox. We have money to make sure everybody get vaccine but no money to help eradicate poverty. A false love
Monkey pox is only transmitted through sexual or blood contact (95% of cases), like HIV.
Let’s talk seriously: for those who have no “special practices”, you put yourself in much more danger by crossing the road.
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