Authorities in Jamaica are investigating what is suspected to be CARICOM’s first monkeypox related death to be recorded.
Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness revealed earlier this week that it had launched a probe following the death of a local monkeypox patient.
The news broke during the country’s routine monkeypox update, which was relative to the period up to Sunday, September 11th. At that time, it was also revealed that Jamaica had recorded an additional five cases of monkeypox, bringing the total number of cases recorded in the country in recent times to twelve, eight of which were still active at that time.
The recently recorded cases were found in Kingston, St Andrew, St Elizabeth, St James and Manchester, between September 7th and 11th, and they have been described as four males and one female.
The ministry said the latest positive patients are four males and a female.
Jamaica has in recent times confirmed local transmission of monkeypox, with ten out of the twelve confirmed cases of the disease being reported as resulting from local transmission.
Globally, monkeypox infections have risen to over 59,000 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A total of 12 deaths have been confirmed by the World Health Organisation amid the 2022 monkeypox outbreaks.
One of these deaths occurred in Cuba. The patient was a 50-year-old Italian Tourist who tested positive after being hospitalized for severe symptoms of illness. He died one day after being diagnosed with the disease.