- So far, 3,145 confirmed infections have been registered in Mexico.
- Although monkeypox infections are on the decline, the death toll is increasing every week.
- The most frequent comorbidity is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). They are followed by syphilis, hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus.
The end of the year looks dangerous for our country and not only because of respiratory diseases. The monkeypox outbreak remains active and although the trend is downward, the death toll is increasing. Although one of the most dangerous points is that there are still no vaccines approved for application in Mexico.
According to the Health Secretary (SSa), during the last four epidemiological weeks, that is, from 43 to 46, the epidemic curve on monkeypox registers a downward trend. It went from 162 to only two confirmed cases, and from 263 to 40 probable infections.
To complement the information, it is detailed that from the registration of the first case until November 14, 5,243 people who meet the operational definition of a probable case were identified. Of these, 3,145 were confirmed, 402 are under study, and 1,696 were ruled out by laboratory tests.
Distribution of cases in the country
The Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference (InDRE) notified that the positive cases are distributed in 32 states: Mexico City, 1,833 infections; Jalisco, 355; State of Mexico, 320; Yucatan, 111; Quintana Roo, 111; Tabasco, 44; Puebla, 45; Nuevo Leon, 34; Chiapas, 32; Lower California, 25; Veracruz, 27; Queretaro, 23; Morelos, 21; Guanajuato, 17; and Sinaloa, 17.
Also, Hidalgo, 16; Chihuahua, 15; Coahuila, 12; Tamaulipas, 11; Nayarit, 10; Aguascalientes, nine; Guerrero, nine; Oaxaca, eight; Campeche, seven; Michoacan, seven; Tlaxcala, seven; San Luis Potosi, five; Sound, five; Colima, four; Zacatecas, three; Baja California Sur, one and Durango, one.
Regarding the distribution by sex assigned at birth, the predominance is in men, with 97.5 percent; the age group from 30 to 34 years is the most prevalent, presenting an incidence rate of 8.1 per 100,000 inhabitants; that is, 828 of the three thousand 145 confirmed cases.
Regarding the gender of the confirmed cases that provide information, 96.5 percent correspond to male and 2.6 percent female; 0.2 percent is non-binary; 0.04 percent, bigender; 0.1 percent, transgender; and 0.4 percent corresponds to another group.
Monkeypox-associated deaths
According to the authorities, So far, 10 deaths have been identified: nine men and one woman. These were people who presented lesions compatible with monkeypox during medical care and who, after the laboratory study, were confirmed.
Four of the deaths are directly related to monkeypox virus infection, two deaths are not due to this direct cause, and four are being analyzed by a group of experts in infectious disease and epidemiology to define whether there is a causal association. between death and monkeypox virus infection.
The most frequent comorbidity is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in 1,845 of the confirmed cases of monkeypox; that is, 58.7 percent. They are followed by syphilis, hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus, among others.
The most common symptoms reported are rash in all cases, which is identified with a more or less extensive reddish skin rash; fever; headaches, muscle and joint pain; Swelling of the lymph nodes; general weakness or fatigue that makes it difficult or impossible to perform tasks that you normally perform easily; chills and others.
Monkeypox in the rest of the world
As of November 13, 79,411 confirmed cases were reported worldwide in 110 countries, territories, and areas in the six regions of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as 50 deaths.
This disease lasts an average of 21 days, and is transmitted by direct contact with the secretions of a sick person through mucous membranes or skin lesions, respiratory droplets, and objects contaminated with body fluids.
It can be prevented by avoiding direct physical contact with people who are sick or suspected of having the disease. Sexual contact is an activity that must be taken into account, since it is spread by very close contact between two or more people.
There are practices that can increase the risk of infections, including monkeypox, such as: sex with strangers, dark rooms or sexual parties; this, due to the close contact between people during these activities.
Those who care for relatives with the disease should wash the sick person’s clothes, towels and sheets and eating utensils with warm water and detergent; In addition, clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces. In case of presenting symptoms, patients should avoid getting close to other people and not go to public places.
Also read:
Monkeypox in Mexico: 6 deaths associated with the infection
First case in the world of myocarditis associated with monkeypox
Unpublished: First case in the world of simultaneous contagion of monkeypox, Covid-19 and HIV