WILLEMSTAD - The Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature has taken note of the current situation concerning Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox.
Global Situation
On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO), for the second time in three years (the first being in 2022), categorized Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This is the highest level of alert that the WHO can declare. With this classification, the WHO is urging all countries to prepare to identify possible Mpox cases and to take the necessary measures to prevent local transmission. Currently, Mpox is concentrated in Central Africa, specifically in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. The last four countries mentioned had not previously reported Mpox cases. Mpox can be fatal, and currently, the number of mortal cases has surpassed that of the previous year.
The Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature has informed that Curaçao’s Public Health Service is preparing to fulfill its monitoring and control duties. As with other infectious diseases, collaboration among all partners, including general practitioners, specialists, and laboratories, is essential to prevent and contain the disease within our community. The Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature will continue to keep the Curaçao community informed about Mpox.