Colombia confirms three cases of monkeypox in Bogotá and Medellín

The authorities of Colombia confirmed three cases of monkey pox or monkeypox, two of them in Bogotá and one in Medellín, the Ministry of Health reported Thursday.

“Two cases, adults of Colombian nationality, were identified in Bogotá with a history of travel to Europe and, after taking samples of serum, exudate from injuries and pharyngeal swabs, they are in isolation with contact tracing,” the Ministry of Health detailed in a statement.

The information added that the third identified case corresponds to a young adult in Medellín also isolated and with contact tracing completed.

The director of Epidemiology and Demography of the Ministry of Health, Claudia Cuéllar, said that Manifestations of monkeypox “usually include fever, severe headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash or maculopapular lesions.”

Nevertheless, He called for these reports not to cause alarm in the population and invited to be vigilant of the symptoms and contacts with suspicious people.

“When presenting any of these symptoms and if you were in contact with a suspected case, call your EPS (Health Provider Company) or go to the nearest health center,” he said.

The rash usually begins one to three days after the onset of the fever. The lesions may be flat or slightly raised, filled with clear or yellowish fluid, and may then crust over, dry out, and fall off.

In most cases, symptoms go away on their own within a few weeks, but in some people they can lead to medical complications and even death.

The Ministry of Health also indicated that monkeypox is not usually considered highly contagious because it requires close physical contact with someone who is infectious to spread between people.