Cuba confirms its first case of monkeypox in a critically ill Italian tourist

The Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) has confirmed the first case of monkeypox or simian pox in the country in an Italian tourist who is in very serious condition.

The man is “in critical condition, with danger to his life,” MINSAP has made known in a press release picked up by Granma.

The tourist arrived in the country on August 15 and, during the following two days, visited several places in western provinces of the country.

On August 17 he began to show symptoms of the disease and the following day he went to the health services because of the persistence of the symptoms.

During the first medical attention his symptoms worsened, so he required urgent transfer for hospitalization and intensive treatment, arriving at the hospital in cardiorespiratory arrest, from which he recovered, although he remains in intensive care.

“The epidemiological investigation is deepening and focus control actions are being carried out, as provided for in the protocol approved to deal with this disease in the country,” adds the statement.