- So far, 3,768 confirmed cases of monkeypox, also known as MPOX, have been identified in Mexico.
- The people most vulnerable to developing complications are those who have HIV, syphilis or diabetes mellitus.
- Although there are already vaccines in the world against this disease, until now no biological has been authorized by Cofepris.
At the beginning of 2022, an international health alert was issued due to the spread of monkeypox. After a year, the outlook seems calmer, although the disease has not completely disappeared. In fact, In Mexico alone, 14 deaths directly associated with MPOX, which is the name by which the disease is now known, have been identified.
In this sense, the statistics of new probable cases has shown a downward trend throughout this 2023. While in the first week of the year 70 were reported, for the third the figure was nine according to the Weekly Technical Report of Epidemiological Surveillance of the Ministry of Health (SSa).
The document details that Since the registration of the first case in May 2022 and up to January 23, 6,280 people who meet the operational definition of a probable case were identified. Of these, 3,768 were confirmed, 341 are under study, and 2,171 were ruled out by laboratory tests.
Distribution of cases in Mexico
The Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference (InDRE) notified that the positive cases are distributed in the 32 states:
Mexico City, 1,999 infections; Jalisco, 398; State of Mexico, 356; Quintana Roo, 210; Yucatan, 166; Puebla, 68; Nuevo Leon, 66; Veracruz, 59; Tabasco, 56; Chiapas, 50; Lower California, 32; Queretaro, 28; Tamaulipas, 27; Morelos, 25; and Hidalgo, 25.
In addition, Campeche, 23; Guanajuato, 20; Chihuahua, 20; Aguascalientes, 18; Coahuila, 16; Guerrero, 15; Oaxaca, 12; San Luis Potosi, 11; Nayarit, 10; Tlaxcala, 10; Michoacán, eight; Colima, six; Sound, five; Zacatecas, five; Baja California Sur, three and Durango, two.
Regarding the distribution by sex assigned at birth, the predominance is in men, with 97 percent. The age group from 30 to 34 years is the one with the highest prevalence, which presents an incidence rate of 9.69 per 100,000 inhabitants; that is, 986 of the three thousand 768 confirmed cases.
Regarding the gender of the confirmed cases that provide information, 95.7 percent correspond to male and 3.3 percent, female; 0.23 percent is non-binary; 0.09 percent, bigender; 0.2 percent, transgender; and 0.44 percent corresponds to another group.
Deaths from MPOX in Mexico
Up to now, 14 deaths have been identified, of which four are directly related to MPOX infection. While two are not related to this cause and eight are under analysis by a group of experts in infectious disease and epidemiology to define whether there is a causal association between death and infection.
These are 13 men and one woman, who during medical care presented lesions compatible with MPOX and which, after the laboratory study, were confirmed.
Regarding the most common symptoms reported, there are: exanthema in all cases, which is identified with a reddish rash on the skin, and more or less extensive; 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.
Those who live with it are more vulnerable to developing the disease. HIV, suffer from syphilis and diabetes mellitus, among others.
Panorama in the rest of the world
As of January 23, 84,916 confirmed cases were reported worldwide in 110 countries, territories, and areas in the six regions of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as 81 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:
MPOX, new official name for monkeypox to avoid stigma
Monkeypox in Mexico: There are 2 deaths associated with the infection
Unpublished: First case in the world of simultaneous contagion of monkeypox, Covid-19 and HIV