Local health authorities declared Thursday that Barbados has no suspected or confirmed cases of the monkeypox virus to date, but are giving assurances that the island remains on high alert.In a statement, the Ministry of Health said it will continue its “active surveillance and the sensitisation” of port health personnel on the management of the monkeypox virus.On Wednesday, Jamaica became the first Caribbean country to confirm its first case of the monkeypox virus. The male patient recently travelled from the United Kingdom and presented to the public health system on July 5 having arrived in the island some five days earlier. He has been isolated while having confirmatory tests done and his close contacts quarantined following contact tracing.On the heels of the development, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency Dr Joy St John advised there was no need for undue concern but stressed that Barbadians should follow the advice and guidance of the Ministry of Health.
