WHO says epidemiological situation of monkeypox in Brazil is “worrying”

The World Health Organization (WHO) Emergencies Program technical lead on monkeypox, Rosamund Lewis, said that the disease situation in Brazil is “worrying”. The statement was made during a virtual press conference on Tuesday (26),

Rosamund said that due to the size of the country, there may be underreporting of cases – since diagnostic tests do not reach all regions.

“Certainly, [a varíola dos macacos] It is very worrying for countries like Brazil, with a large population, geographically extensive, and now also with a significant number of cases”, he said.

So far, according to data from the Ministry of Health, Brazil has 813 cases of monkeypox in at least 13 states and the Federal District.

On Saturday (23), the WHO declared that the current outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

During the press conference, Rosamund said that “what is critically important in Brazil is access to tests”.

“And perhaps access to testing is not available everywhere. So again, as stated earlier, there may be underreporting in the number of cases,” said the WHO technical lead.

In a workshop on Surveillance, Alert and Response to Public Health Emergencies (VIGIAR), which took place in Brasília, on Monday (25), the Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, said that Brazil had done its “homework, since the first suspected case of the disease”.

Queiroga said that the structure of the Unified Health System (SUS) is prepared to identify suspected cases of Monkeypox.

“We currently have four laboratories capable of performing the diagnosis: Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Funed [Fundação Ezequiel Dias]in Minas Gerais, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation and the laboratory at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro”, he said.

For Rosamund, “the situation in Brazil is worrying and it is important that the authorities become aware of the public health emergency of international interest and the temporary recommendations, and take the appropriate measures”.

According to a note, the Ministry of Health says that it “continues in direct articulation with the states to monitor cases and trace patient contacts”.

cases by states

Confirmed cases in Brazil are being monitored by health authorities.

So far, 13 states and the Federal District have identified contamination by the monkeypox virus. Are they:

  • Sao Paulo (595);
  • Rio de Janeiro (109);
  • Minas Gerais (42);
  • Federal District (13);
  • Paraná (19);
  • Goiás (16);
  • Bahia (3);
  • Ceará (2);
  • Rio Grande do Sul (3);
  • Rio Grande do Norte (2);
  • Holy Spirit (2);
  • Pernambuco (3);
  • Santa Catarina (3);
  • Mato Grosso do Sul (1).

About monkey pox

Monkeypox is caused by a virus called Monkeypox that belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family.

The virus is transmitted from person to person through close contact with injuries, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding.

The disease can also be spread by skin contact during sex, including kissing, touching, oral sex, and penetration with someone who has symptoms.

*With information from Lucas Rocha, from CNN

Source: CNN Brasil

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