“Through an epidemiological siege, the first suspected case of smallpox was detected at Simon Bolivar International Airport, in Maiquetia (24 kilometers from Caracas),” the statement read.
He added, “The patient, who entered the country from Madrid, Spain, had contact with two infected people in the city of Barcelona in the European country, and he was immediately isolated, and the necessary tests were conducted and a sample was taken. This resulted in positive results and stable health conditions.”
The Ministry of Health did not give details of the injured.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded more than 1,000 cases of monkeypox in thirty non-endemic countries, with major outbreaks in the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal.
The first symptoms of infection are fever, headache, muscle aches and chills, which then develop into skin lesions between the first and third day.
This viral disease, transmitted by contact with a person with skin lesions, was first identified in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is considered endemic in 12 African countries.
No deaths have been reported among the confirmed cases in non-endemic areas, but their emergence worries experts.
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
