SP has two pregnant women and ten children and adolescents with monkeypox

The state of São Paulo records two cases of monkeypox among pregnant women and another ten diagnoses among children and adolescents. In total, the state confirms 1,298 cases, the vast majority of them —97%— among men.

Pregnant women and children are considered to be at risk for monkeypox because they are more likely to develop complications from the disease. Immunosuppressed are also part of the groups that require more attention, and in this group is the patient who died in Minas Gerais last week.

According to information from the state government, the two pregnant women infected with monkeypox – the virus that causes monkeypox – do not have serious symptoms of the disease. Therefore, they are in home isolation.

The minors are also not in a serious condition. In total, there are five children under the age of nine and another five teenagers. They all do isolation at home.

Most diagnoses continue to be in men, a trend seen around the world. In the state of São Paulo, 97% of cases are concentrated in this population.

However, the cases already registered in other groups show that the disease can infect anyone. “We have cases of children, pregnant women, women and men who live on the streets,” said David Uip, secretary of Science, Research and Development in Health of the São Paulo government, during a press conference this Thursday.

“In a little while, all people will be susceptible to infection”, completes the secretary.

In the current outbreak, transmission of the disease is concentrated during intimate sex contact and between men who have sex with men. But anyone is subject to becoming infected, regardless of activity and sexual orientation, when having close and prolonged contact with someone who is sick.

“Good information has to be accurate, but absolutely without prejudice,” said Uip.

Cases in the state are mostly mild, but two patients are admitted to hospitals due to the disease.

confrontation

This Wednesday, the São Paulo government also announced measures to face the outbreak. Among the actions is the creation of a statewide network of hospitals to care for the most serious patients and a network of public and private laboratories led by the Instituto Adolfo Lutz for epidemiological and genomic surveillance of the monkeypox virus.

Health authorities also reported that the state is expected to supply 11,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine. As the vaccination schedule consists of two doses, 5,500 people must be vaccinated at first.

The government has also released recommendations for pregnant, postpartum and lactating women who are infected with monkeypox. Giving preference to cesarean section depending on the lesions caused by the disease and suspending breastfeeding the baby for at least 14 days are some of these measures.