Brazil confirms 7th case of monkeypox, with patient in RS

The Ministry of Health confirmed this Friday (17) the seventh case of monkeypox in Brazil. The 34-year-old man lives in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, and has returned from a trip to Europe.

This is the second confirmed case in Rio Grande do Sul, but the state’s Health Department stated that they are not related. Both infections are considered imported because the patients have recently been to other countries.

The first case, announced on Sunday (12), is that of a 51-year-old man who lives in Portugal and traveled to Porto Alegre.

The Secretary of Health of Rio Grande do Sul said that the health status of the patient who had the diagnosis confirmed this Friday is stable. He is in isolation at home.

“The man underwent medical care in recent weeks and is under medical follow-up, has a stable clinical condition, without complications and is being monitored as well as his contacts by the Health Departments of the State and Municipality”, he said in a note.

The diagnosis was made by the Instituto Adolfo Lutz, in São Paulo — one of the four laboratories that are at the forefront of suspected cases of monkeypox in Brazil.

Of the seven confirmed cases in the country, four are from São Paulo, two from Rio Grande do Sul and one from Rio de Janeiro. Another nine cases are being investigated. The first case was registered on June 8.

“Control measures were taken immediately, such as isolation and contact tracing on an international flight with the support of Anvisa. [Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária]”, the ministry said.

Earlier this month, Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga told Folha that the government is studying the purchase of the smallpox vaccine for specific groups, such as health professionals who live in border regions or deal directly with cases.

The main signs and symptoms of monkeypox are fever, skin rashes, and enlarged lymph nodes (adenomegaly).

The latest bulletin released by the Ministry of Health on the disease indicates that 2,149 cases have already been confirmed in 37 countries. Next week, the WHO (World Health Organization) will assess whether the monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.