Minsalud raised the risk of monkeypox transmission from moderate to high

Ruiz Gómez stated that the health authorities in the country have established how The worldwide circulation of monkeypox has been growing, significantly affecting various countries in Europe, the United States and Latin America, particularly Brazil and Peru.

«In Colombia until now we have maintained a series of smallpox cases, most of them controlled, to date we have 12 confirmed cases, the majority of which have been reported derived from infections that have occurred outside the country, but have been diagnosed. In colombia. However, given the growth of infections, there has been “increasing the risk of community contagion for which it is necessary to take the pertinent measures,” Ruiz pointed out.

He added that, “for this reason, during the meeting on Monday, July 25, chaired by the Epidemiological Committee of the Ministry of Health, the monkeypox situation was exhaustively analyzed and it was evident that we have a window of opportunity to do containment work before possible community transmission, so we decided increase the level of risk of transmission, from a moderate level, to a high level and said decision was protocolized.

The Minister of Health stated that it is true that since the previous week a series of decisions have been made that have already been defined as an action plan that work has been going on since May 30or for the impact of this disease in the country.

“As it is, this work includes several aspects, among them is increasing the diagnostic capacity in our country, at this time The country has nine public health laboratories departmental centers with diagnostic capacity and the laboratory of the National Institute of Health, additionally ten diagnostic centers located in academic institutions and research centers with the capacity to guarantee said diagnosis,” said Ruiz Gómez.

Likewise, within said action plan, two questions were implemented within the formats for migration to the country, in order to identify before arrival in Colombia the people who could be infected and be able to take the corresponding measures, increasing the presence and capacity. response from health ministries at airports where there are travelers arriving from international flights.

Finally, the EPS is establishing a specific plan to specifically address suspected cases of the monkey epidemic, “we hope that this measure remains starting next week“said the Minister of Health.