Belize Remains Free of Monkeypox

Belize remains free of the Monkeypox virus. To date, there have been more than severity thousand cases of monkeypox globally. Two persons in the US have died from the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at this time, data suggest that gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men make up the majority of cases in the current monkeypox outbreak. However, anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, who has been in close, personal contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk. Health officials are asking everyone to take steps to prevent getting monkeypox. If you have any symptoms of monkeypox, talk to a healthcare provider. Fortunately, there are no cases in Belize and as the Director of Public Health Services, Dr Melissa Diaz explains, testing continues. 

Dr.Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director of Public Health and Wellness:“We continue to test for monkey pox on a regular basis. As I had mentioned before in previous interviews we haven’t really had a case that fits exactly the case definition of monkey pox but because we have an enhanced surveillance system going on we do continue to test and we still have not been able to confirm a positive case yet. But just to be remind that if you do have any suspicion, that if you do have a suspicious rash or fever or anything else that you would think that you would like to be tested please visit any of our health facilities and throughout the country we are able to test for monkey pox and that’s done in country.”