Monkeypox Outbreak Spreads in Quintana Roo

The National Committee for Epidemiological Surveillance (Conave) has disclosed that Quintana Roo is currently dealing with seven active cases of monkeypox.

Monkeypox, also known as Mpox, has become a significant concern in global public health following the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of a global outbreak emergency. In response, Mexico's Ministry of Health has urged medical units across the country to strengthen their epidemiological surveillance and promptly report any suspected cases to help control the spread of the disease.

Conave, which is made up of various health sector institutions in Mexico, has issued an epidemiological notice. This notice instructs all health entities to implement preventive measures in their care centers. These measures are designed to break potential transmission chains and ensure quick and effective care for those infected. The concern has been heightened due to the presence of a variant in Africa that is associated with more sustained transmission and affects a wider age range.

As of early August 2024, Conave has identified 212 suspected cases of Mpox in Mexico, with 49 of these confirmed across 11 federal entities. Mexico City has the highest number of confirmed cases at 29, followed by Quintana Roo with seven and Jalisco with three. These numbers highlight the concerning spread of the virus across different regions of Mexico.

Quintana Roo has the second-highest number of confirmed cases in the country. Of the seven cases reported in this state, six are men and one is a woman. So far, only the clade II variant has been detected in Mexico, with the new clade 1b2 variant not yet identified. The risk of international spread remains high, particularly in the Americas and the Caribbean, prompting the WHO to urge member states to remain vigilant against the potential introduction of this variant.

Mexico has implemented a Response Plan to tackle the situation. The plan includes national coordination of the response, community involvement, epidemiological diagnosis and surveillance, comprehensive patient care, and risk communication to the public. As of August 3, 2024, confirmed cases have been reported in Mexico City, Quintana Roo, Jalisco, Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, State of Mexico, and Nuevo León, indicating a broad dispersion of the disease across the country.