PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad health authorities Friday urged people who have travelled to countries where the Monkeypox virus has been detected and “are symptomatic” to visit their nearest health provider.

Cases of Monkeypox are being investigated in several European countries as well as the United States, Canada and Australia. Cases have also been reported in Belgium, France, and Germany.

Monkeypox is most common in remote parts of Central and West Africa.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said while no “suspected” case has been detected here, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh convened a high powered meeting attended by the Chief Medical officer, Dr Roshan Parasram, as well as Dr Erica Wheeler, the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) representative “to address reports of the detection of this virus” in countries overseas.

“The public is advised that the main symptoms of Moneypox are fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes. The virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal or with contaminated material such as bedding,” the ministry said.

It said the virus may also be transmitted from person to person by respiratory droplets.

Monkeypox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus.