Ministry of Health confirms first monkeypox death in Brazil

The Ministry of Health confirmed the first smallpox death of monkeys in Brazil. The patient was a 41-year-old man from Minas Gerais.

According to authorities in the portfolio heard by the Sheetthe victim had comorbidities and was immunosuppressed.

The folder informed, in a note, that the man was hospitalized in a public hospital in Belo Horizonte (MG), and was later directed to the CTI (Intensive Care Center).

“The Ministry of Health confirms a death related to monkeypox, known as monkeypox, in Brazil. It is a 41-year-old male patient with low immunity and comorbidities, including cancer (lymphoma), which led to worsening of the condition. He was hospitalized in a public hospital in Belo Horizonte, being later directed to the CTI. The cause of death was septic shock, aggravated by monkeypox”, said the folder, in a note.

In a statement, the Minas Gerais Health Department confirmed that the patient was being followed up for “other serious clinical conditions”.

Health Ministry officials initially reported that the person was from Uberlândia, but the Minas Gerais Health Department said the patient lived in Belo Horizonte. Uberlândia City Hall also said that the victim was not from the city.

Until this Thursday (28), Brazil had already registered 1,066 confirmed diagnoses of the disease, according to the Ministry of Health. The federal government has announced the creation of an emergency monkeypox committee and treats monkeypox as an outbreak.

On Saturday (23), the WHO (World Health Organization) classified the spread of the disease as a public emergency of global concern. The entity considers the situation in Brazil for the disease as alarming.

“It is very worrying for countries like Brazil […] reporting a significant number of cases,” Rosamund Lewis, WHO technical lead for monkeypox, told a news conference on Tuesday.

Monkeypox, also known by its English name monkeypox, is transmitted mainly by touching the skin lesions that patients have. In the current outbreak, research already shows that the spread of the disease occurs during sexual activities.

The main form of prevention is the isolation of patients to prevent other people from having contact with the sick. Vaccination in priority groups and in people who have had recent contact with the sick are also important measures to protect themselves from the disease.

So far, Brazil does not have immunizers. The country, through PAHO (Pan American Health Organization), hopes to obtain vaccines with the aim of vaccinating groups at greater risk, such as health professionals who have direct contact with the virus.

The city of São Paulo recorded three cases of children with the disease. According to the Department of Health, all are being monitored and there are no signs of aggravation. This was the first official announcement of cases of the disease in children in the country.

Cases in children are worrying because they are more vulnerable to complications from the disease. Another country that has already confirmed diagnoses in minors was the US, with two cases.

The emergencies committee created by the Ministry of Health will have the participation of representatives of Conass (National Council of Health Secretaries), Conasems (National Council of Municipal Health Secretaries), the Pan American Health Organization, Anvisa (National Surveillance Agency in Health) and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Evandro Chagas da Fiocruz.

“The control of monkeypox is a priority for the Ministry of Health, which constantly monitors the epidemiological situation to guide surveillance and response actions to the disease in Brazil,” said the ministry when announcing the operations center.