Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony says that dual monkeypox/ COVID-19 infection is unlikely but as with any other underlying illness, a monkeypox patient may have a more complicated form of COVID-19.

The Health Minister, during his daily COVID-19 update on Tuesday, explained that monkeypox is a rare disease. As such, the Health Ministry does not anticipate many cases recorded locally.

He, however, acknowledged that a monkeypox infection can make someone increasingly vulnerable to the more severe symptoms of COVID-19.

Monkeypox, like other diseases, would be considered a comorbidity- an underlying disease.  And as is the case with other comorbidities, a COVID-19 patient is at-risk of experiencing worse symptoms.

“Any infection, if it is prolonged in that person’s body, can cause changes and make that patient more complicated to manage,” Dr. Anthony explained.

Even with this possibility, Dr. Anthony was keen on noting that there will be no great spread of the monkeypox virus. As such, he does not anticipate the dual monkeypox/ COVID-19 infection.

Currently, he said there is only one case, a 57-year-old man in isolation, whose condition is listed as stable.

“… if they do occur, doctors would decide the best course of treatment,” he said nevertheless.

Over the last few months, some local health professionals have been receiving training to detect, test and treat this virus. It was this training that allowed Guyana to confirm the case.

Monkeypox, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is a virus transmitted to humans from animals with symptoms similar to those experienced by smallpox patients.

The Health Minister also advised people to engage their health providers if they see rashes appearing on their skin.