The Municipal Health Department of Rio de Janeiro (SMS-Rio) confirmed today the first case of monkeypox in the city. The victim is a 38-year-old Brazilian who lives in London, England. He arrived in Brazil on Saturday (June 11) and, the following day, sought medical attention at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Evandro Chagas, of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (INI/Fiocruz).
Clinical samples were sent to the Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF), at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), which is a national reference. The positive result for the disease was released yesterday.
“He has mild symptoms, is in home isolation and is being monitored by the Health Surveillance Superintendence (SVS-Rio). All five of his contacts are under investigation for guidance and monitoring,” the secretary said.
He also added that SVS-Rio maintains active surveillance for the timely detection of cases of the disease in Rio. The Surveillance Superintendence “is also monitoring the national and international epidemiological scenario, keeping health units informed and oriented towards surveillance, alert and response to public health events”, he concluded.
According to the Ministry of Health, in addition to the case in Rio, there was a notification of another record of monkeypox in the state of São Paulo. There is a 31-year-old man who lives in the capital. According to the ministry, the patient has a history of travel to Europe, returning to Brazil on Monday ( June 6). “The case was also laboratory confirmed with an RT-PCR test, followed by sequencing by the Adolfo Lutz Institute,” the ministry said.
Also according to the ministry, control measures were adopted immediately, such as isolation and contact tracing on an international flight with the support of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The Ministry of Health maintains direct articulation with the states, through the Situation Room and the National CIEVS, to monitor cases and trace contacts.
Also on Wednesday (June 15), the Ezequiel Dias Foundation ruled out the possibility that a 41-year-old man in Minas Gerais had died from monkeypox. “This is a 41-year-old man with no travel history and no contact with a suspected or confirmed case of the disease. The causes of death are still under investigation.
At the moment, according to the ministry, Brazil has five confirmed cases, three in São Paulo, one in Rio Grande do Sul and one in Rio de Janeiro. Eight cases are still under investigation.
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