Cuba's Health Ministry: There are currently no cases of MPOX in the country

 On August 14, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of smallpox (MPOX) an international public health emergency, given its resurgence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in a growing number of African countries, as well as its spread outside that continent.

In this regard, Dr. Francisco Durán García, National Director of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health, told Granma that there are currently no cases of the disease in Cuba, but that surveillance is being maintained.

He explained that there is an experience in the country, since in 2022 eight cases were detected, which were controlled in a timely manner.

Durán García pointed out that the disease is transmitted through direct or indirect contact with blood, body fluids or skin lesions.

He added that it is also spread through sexual intercourse, but unlike other sexually transmitted infections, it cannot be prevented by the use of condoms alone, since it is also transmitted through body-to-body contact.

Regarding the symptoms, he specified that it usually begins with fever, muscle pains, headaches, among others, including the unpleasant rash on the skin of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital regions, and can last between two and four weeks.