HAGÅTÑA, 12 SEPTEMBER 2022 (MARIANAS VARIETY) —- The Office of the Governor and the Department of Public Health and Social Services have been notified of the first case of monkeypox on Guam, imported by an incoming traveller.
Confirmation of the individual’s illness was made by the U.S Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on 11 September 2022. The individual, whose name will not be released to preserve their privacy, arrived on Guam on 10 September. The traveller is cooperative and remains in isolation. The individual indicated they do not need medical attention and is being monitored for any changes in their condition.
DPHSS staff will confer with the individual’s healthcare provider to confirm the onset date of symptoms to calculate the appropriate isolation period. Once the onset date of symptoms is confirmed, DPHSS staff will calculate the isolation period and inform the individual of the end date of isolation to protect the public from the risk of infection. DPHSS has further launched a case investigation to identify and notify any possible close contacts.
“Upon notification of a confirmed imported case of monkeypox, the Department of Public Health and Social Services team, led by Chima Mbakwem, engaged quickly into action to locate the individual and place the individual under surveillance. The traveler is properly isolated and does not pose a danger to the local community,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero.
“All parties are cooperative, and we ask that the public stay aware and informed on the signs and symptoms of monkeypox. Our administration continues to keep alert of the evolving global situation, as we closely monitor transmission trends to bolster our state of readiness and response.”
According to the CDC, monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as the variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox….PACNEWS