Brazil confirms 5 domestic cases of monkeypox infection | International | Newtalk News

The first symptoms of monkeypox are fever, headache, muscle pain, back pain, swollen ganglia (lymph nodes), chills, and exhaustion. Image: Wikipedia/Public Domain (file photo)

The Brazilian Ministry of Health confirmed yesterday that five domestic cases of monkeypox infection were found in the state of São Paulo and the city of Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian Ministry of Health noted that these cases are still under investigation to find the link of transmission. The patient has been isolated, clinically stable, uncomplicated, and monitored by state and municipal health departments.

So far, 15 cases of monkeypox have been detected in Brazil, 10 in São Paulo, 2 in Rio Grande do Sul and 3 in Rio de Janeiro. Among them, 10 were infected overseas, and the patients had travel history to Europe; the other 5 were infected domestically.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), monkeypox cases present a “moderate risk” to global public health after they emerge in non-disease-endemic countries. The risk to public health could become high if the virus becomes a human pathogen and spreads to groups more likely to be at risk of severe disease, such as young children and people with weakened immune systems.

The WHO also said that the smallpox vaccine is not recommended for monkeypox cases.

The first symptoms of monkeypox are fever, headache, muscle pain, back pain, swollen ganglia (lymph nodes), chills, and exhaustion.

Giliane Trindade, a virologist at the Department of Microbiology at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Brazil, pointed out that during the incubation period between infection and the onset of symptoms, patients will begin to experience fever, malaise, fatigue, loss of appetite and collapse. Symptoms observed in other viral infections.

Within 1 to 3 days of having a fever, patients develop a rash that usually starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body, such as the chest, palms, and soles of the feet.

Monkeypox virus is mainly transmitted through contact with large droplets exhaled by others, contact with infected skin lesions, and contaminated materials. Without treatment, it can recover on its own in about 3 weeks.

Brazilian health authorities point out that while monkeypox was originally found in monkeys, the current outbreak is not related to animals. Using water, soap, and alcohol to clean and sanitize hands remains one of the main hygiene measures to prevent contracting monkeypox and COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).

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