The second outbreak of what was formerly known as monkeypox, originating from very specific areas of central Africa and associated with the Republic of the Congo, has brought 260 new cases to Spain in 2024, according to the National Center for Epidemiology (CNE).
A zoonotic disease known in English as Monkey pox, which was initially transmitted through the "contagion of monkeys to humans" and then became contagious "directly" between people. This is how José Díaz-Flores, the General Director of Public Health of the Canary Islands Health Service, defined it during an interview with La Voz. "The virus has been circulating for several decades in the African continent," he highlighted.
The Director of Public Health focuses the disease in the Republic of the Congo, a place where they do not "have a strong health system", unlike what we have in Spain. "Today we believe that the problem is very focused in Africa," he said. The lack of adequate healthcare and good services means that many cases are not reported. "There is underdiagnosis there, fewer cases are diagnosed than there actually are," he made clear.
Due to the difficulties in having a strong healthcare system, Pérez pointed out the importance of virtually all European countries donating part of their vaccines. "The problem is focused there and it is better to solve it before it spreads and we have to take action in Spain," he pointed out.
From the Ministry of Health, Autonomous Communities, the European Union and the World Health Organization (WHO), it has been analyzed and understood to establish a new health emergency law to "prevent" and apply the principle of "precaution", Díaz-Flores pointed out. A measure with which they are already "reinforcing surveillance", paying attention to the appearance of some cases and launching the dissemination of the importance of vaccination in risk groups.
In addition, Díaz-Flores wanted to clarify this point to avoid alarming the Canarian population and combat the "lack of information" and "uncertainty" that exists about the disease. "In Spain, cases have decreased significantly in recent months," since it appeared in September 2023, he pointed out.
The director has made it clear that from the archipelago there is attention to the epidemiological situation and highlights the case-by-case evaluation. In the Canary Islands, only three isolated cases of the new variant of monkeypox have been registered. With this and hand in hand, they can "implement new measures and even adapt the protocols we currently have for action," added Díaz-Flores.
The few cases that have occurred in the archipelago were detected on the island of Gran Canaria, in the months of January, April and July. But "there was no outbreak, these were specific cases in which they underwent treatment and isolation".
José Díaz-Flores wanted to send a reassuring and responsible message, taking into account that from the Canary Islands "there are no direct flights to those areas of Africa", so "there is no direct contact with those countries", he specified. For Catalonia and Madrid, the situation has become somewhat more problematic. "In recent months there have been some more cases than normal, with contacts, flights and people who go from areas at risk to the different autonomous communities," he added.
Vaccination in risk groups
Vaccination is essential to avoid contagion of the 'monkeypox' variant, especially in people who are interested in traveling to the African continent, whether for work or family reasons, the director pointed out.
"Get vaccinated at least eight weeks in advance", that is the main health measure that citizens should follow. "It is what will give you security and protection when traveling," the expert specified. Vaccination must be effective in the International Vaccination Centers available to the Health Department. In the case of people who approach the African continent for leisure reasons and do not have any contact with the population, animals, etc. "it will not be necessary to get vaccinated," Díaz reported.
People who received the first dose should go to get the booster dose. "Go to your center to request that vaccination to complete the immunization," he said. "It is interesting to study each case and finish vaccinating," he recommended.
The Ministry of Health in Spain continues to work on putting into operation a surveillance system and adaptation to needs, with the provision according to demand of "approximately 15,000 vaccines that will be distributed by the Autonomous Communities," he said. In addition, about 500,000 vaccines would be in reserve to be derived to the communities.
"Approximately 15,000 vaccines that will be distributed by the Autonomous Communities"
In the case of aid destined for Africa, in addition by the EU countries, it is estimated that about 100,000 vaccines can be donated to the Republic of the Congo, where the "main focus of the problem" is located, the director specified.
The most frequent symptoms of monkeypox are pustules, which usually appear on the arms, face and chest. The disease can be spread by physical contact, such as in sexual relations, such as saliva, Díaz assured. Another of the symptoms that can cause is fever, discomfort, etc. that can "attenuate the complications of the disease".
So prevention at the time of diagnosis is based on "isolating yourself until you pass the period of the disease process", doing it for approximately 20 days. It is necessary to take specific hygiene measures and care, such as workers who perform hygiene tasks in centers or laboratories, who are within the risk group that is convenient to be vaccinated.
Tiger mosquito in the Canary Islands
Regarding some of the mosquitoes that appear in the Canary Islands, such as the tiger mosquito that was found in Tenerife this August, José Díaz-Flores wanted to clarify that since 2013 an entomological surveillance system has been implemented, in which the Institute of Tropical Diseases of the University of La Laguna collaborates. In the last two years, up to 19 episodes have been detected, with the first detected in Fuerteventura in 2017. The most recent dates back specifically to this August, in which a tiger mosquito was found at Tenerife South Airport, in the baggage area. The expert has assured that control and eradication measures are established. "A series of traps in ports, airports, nursery areas, etc.", among the first places that they understood were areas of possible entrances.
The detection and elimination of the mosquito is fundamental as it is the vector of certain diseases such as dengue, zika, yellow fever, chikungunya, among others. "It prevents the mosquito from bringing the outbreak of the disease," he recalled. The importance of the measures is to ensure that "the Canary Islands remain one of the few areas in the world where the mosquito does not exist as a vector", one of the main arguments so that later the viruses "do not circulate through the Spanish territory", he added.
The suspicions and the warning of the citizens when encountering some of them have helped to detect the mosquitoes. "They call us, we go to their house and check that it is true, then, we quickly eliminate the mosquito," he pointed out. remind the population of the importance of collaborating and well, in the end, surveillance and prevention do not come only from the administration, but also come from the hand and collaboration of the citizens.
"Thanks to citizen collaboration we have been able to ensure that the tiger mosquito is not in the Canary Islands"
In the encounter with the mosquito it is determined if it is a false alarm or if it is necessary to act immediately. What must be made clear, in the words of Díaz, is that time should not be allowed to pass. "If mosquitoes are appearing, you should not wait until it is too late and we cannot eliminate it," he specified. Until now and thanks to that citizen collaboration, "we have been able to ensure that the mosquito is not in the Canary Islands", he wanted to thank the active disposition of the population.
