The Ecuadorian Ministry of Health announced yesterday, Friday, the first “suspicious” case of smallpox in the country, which concerns a man who had recently traveled to Africa.
The patient “showed symptoms related to the disease, such as fever and skin lesions,” said the announcement of the Ministry of Health, which emphasizes that the man is in isolation and his contacts are being tracked.
The ministry also said samples were taken from the patient to confirm in the laboratory if it was monkey pox.
Ecuadorian health authorities have ordered about 1,000 monkey pox tests, which are expected to arrive in the South American country next week.
They advised citizens, in case of “suspicious symptoms”, to go to the nearest health center wearing a protective mask, to isolate themselves and avoid public places, family gatherings, school and work.
Earlier on Friday, Argentine authorities confirmed that they had identified the first case of smallpox in Latin America, while investigating another “suspect”, according to the Ministry of Health.
The symptoms of monkey pox are similar but usually milder than smallpox, which disappeared in the late 1970s, and include fever, headache, myalgia, chills, fatigue, swollen glands, and skin rashes.
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