Brazil registers ninth case of monkeypox, fifth in São Paulo

Brazil recorded this Tuesday (21) the ninth case of monkeypox, the fifth in the state of São Paulo.

The Ministry of Health said the patient is a 27-year-old man who lives in New York, in the United States.

According to the ministry, the man’s clinical condition is stable, without complications, and he is being monitored by the municipal and state health secretariats.

The diagnosis was confirmed by the Adolfo Lutz Institute, in São Paulo — one of the four laboratories that are at the forefront of investigating suspected cases in the country.

“All containment and control measures were taken immediately after the communication that it was a suspected case of monkeypox, with the isolation of the patient and tracing of contacts”, said the folder.​

So far, nine cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in Brazil, five in the state of São Paulo, two in Rio de Janeiro, and two in Rio Grande do Sul.

Another ten cases are being investigated, according to the Ministry of Health: two in Ceará, four in Rio de Janeiro, one in Santa Catarina, one in Acre and two in Rio Grande do Sul.

The first case of monkeypox was recorded in Brazil on June 8, in São Paulo, in a 41-year-old man who traveled to Spain and Portugal.

This Monday (20), the state of Rio de Janeiro confirmed the diagnosis in a 25-year-old patient who lives in Maricá. He informed that he did not travel to other countries, but had contact with foreigners.

Monkeypox is spread through close contact. Infection can be via the respiratory tract, but prolonged close face-to-face contact is required.

Another form of infection is through the blister-like sores that monkey pox causes on the skin. Sores are one of the symptoms of the disease, which also include fever and body aches.

Experts say that the chances of monkeypox becoming a pandemic are slim because of the low transmission capacity of the virus. However, they say it is important to remain vigilant, with effective screening and diagnosis methods.