QUITO, Aug 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Ecuador has detected three new cases of monkeypox, bringing the total number of national cases to 19, Minister of Public Health Jose Ruales said.
“We have no hospitalized or severe cases. All are mildly ill and under home supervision while we conduct contact tracing,” the official said at a press conference.
One of the latest cases involves a 29-year-old woman who became the first female to come down with the viral disease in the South American country, Ruales said.
Cases have been detected in seven of Ecuador’s 24 provinces, including Guayas, Santa Elena, Los Rios, El Oro, Azuay, Canar and Pichincha, where the capital Quito is located.
In three cases, infection was likely transmitted between family members, and “in the remainder of cases we have not found a relationship,” said Ruales, adding “we know that the initial transmission took place abroad or through contact with a foreigner.”
LA PAZ: Bolivia has confirmed a total of 15 monkeypox cases, all in the eastern city of Santa Cruz, Minister of Health and Sports Jeyson Auza said.
All the cases involve men between the ages of 22 and 43, and all are in stable condition and under medical supervision, Auza said at a press conference.
“Seventy-one suspected cases were registered in the country and 15 were confirmed,” he said. “In addition, there are 30 people under observation who had direct contact with the positive cases.”
According to the official, 11 cases were contracted in Santa Cruz, while three were contracted in Brazil and one in Chile.
In view of Bolivia’s gradual rise in monkeypox cases, Auza announced adjustments to the country’s epidemiological surveillance to prevent a larger outbreak.
Bolivia confirmed its first case of monkeypox on Aug. 1 in a 38 year-old man. — NNN-XINHUA
