Some people test positive for viruses that cause hand foot and mouth disease or chicken pox – Dr Fong

Some people have tested positive for viruses that cause hand foot and mouth disease or chicken pox, which are diseases that also cause a rash similar to Monkeypox.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says MOH teams have conducted investigations for 13 people who demonstrated symptoms similar to those seen in Monkeypox.

To date, all cases under investigation have been cleared for Monkeypox.

Doctor Fong says Fiji is classed in Group 1: States Parties, with no history of Monkeypox in the human population or not having detected a case of Monkeypox for over 21 days.

Monkeypox is usually a mild and self-limiting illness, which means that most people recover with just supportive (symptom relief) treatment within several weeks.

The MOH is also aware that the Monkeypox transmissibility is much lower compared to COVID-19, with the current evidence being that transmission occurs through direct physical contact, respiratory droplets, or contact with items that may have had contact with the lesions of an infected person, such as their clothing or bedding.

The response plan includes surveillance with rapid response and containment protocols.

A key focus will be on ensuring that those suspected or confirmed to have Monkeypox must be managed in a dignified manner and without any stigmatization.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services continues screening and symptom monitoring of people arriving from a list of countries with evidence of community transmission of Monkeypox.

People arriving in Fiji from these countries have been monitored for symptoms and followed up by health teams until 21 days after the arrival: 3,382 international arrivals have been followed up between May 20th and July 25th (2,529 in the Western division, 738 in Central, 106 in the North and 9 in the Eastern Division).

Infection prevention protocols have also been put together at the border and in community health facilities.

The MOH is awaiting testing supplies and expect to soon begin testing for Monkeypox at Fiji CDC.

They are also escalating their community-wide infection prevention and control measures, and are responding to current threats and creating community-wide resilience to upcoming threats.

We are currently trying to get more details on some people that have tested positive for viruses that cause hand foot and mouth disease or chicken pox.