In a press release, the Ministry of Health highlights that the result of laboratory tests of a suspected case in the province of Lunda Norte is negative and that the teenager, his family and community, "have no history of any type of contact with sources of contagion".
The same ministry explained that the multiform skin lesions presented by the 14-year-old teenager, resident in the municipality of Lucapa, Lunda Norte, which were being associated with monkeypox, are not due to this disease.
"We emphasize that there are several diseases that cause skin lesions and, if these occur, you should immediately contact the nearest health unit for proper investigation and diagnosis", advises the Ministry of Health.
On the same note, citizens are recommended to comply with preventive measures, such as frequent hand washing, avoiding hunting and eating monkey and rodent meat.
"Avoid direct exposure to the meat and blood of these animals, avoid physical contact with people who show the above signs and symptoms, as well as materials and utensils used by them (clothing, bedding, towels, plates, glasses, cutlery, etc.), use appropriate gloves and clothing when handling animals during slaughter procedures", it adds.
Monkeypox is a virus transmitted to humans from monkeys and rodents that manifests itself through fever, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, generalized rashes (skin lesions), having an incubation period of five to 21 days.
In May, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of the risk of a more deadly version of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRCongo), calling for urgent global action.
According to the agency, during 2023 and through May, around 19,900 cases of the deadliest version of the virus were recorded in 25 of DRCongo's 26 provinces, resulting in at least 975 deaths.
For this reason, he called for urgent global action to help the African country in its efforts to contain the virus, as the deadly strain is feared to spread to other countries, the EFE news agency reported.
