Training to start in Guyana to detect Monkeypox

Medical laboratory personnel will receive training to test for Monkeypox, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said on Wednesday.

Recently, medical personnel received training from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and they pass on that training to others here.

“It (the training) will be conducted by one of the staff at the National Public Reference lab who herself would have had training by PAHO in Jamaica. She brings to Guyana that experience of how to do these testing and what are the protocols that we should be observing,” Dr Anthony said during his daily COVID-19 update.

He said four persons from each region will participate in the programme. He added that the programme is not complicated and should only last a few hours because these persons have been trained in similar programmes.

“We have organized a training for laboratory staff from different regions of Guyana to get them more acquainted with monkeypox, how to identify, how to diagnose and when to diagnose…,” the minister said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. While Guyana has not detected any cases, the health ministry is making efforts to expand our capacity to diagnose and treat the disease.

The ministry has issued guidelines for Monkeypox symptoms that persons should be aware of.

It must be noted that experts have stressed that anyone can become infected. The virus causes pus-filled blisters that crust over and fall off.  After exposure, it may be several days to a few weeks before developing symptoms. Early signs of monkeypox include flu-like symptoms like:

Fever

Chills

Headache

Muscle aches

Fatigue

Swollen lymph nodes