This Tuesday (16) Blumenau in the Itajai Valley confirmed two new cases of monkeypox. According to the mayor’s office, these are two men in their 30s, residents of the city. Both are considered stable and remain in home isolation. So far, the municipality has recorded five cases, all in men.

Illustrative depiction of monkeypox. – Photo: Publicity/Freepik/ND

Santa Catarina has 36 confirmed cases and 136 more are under investigation. In Brazil, the disease has already been confirmed in 2219 patients, and according to the Ministry of Health, 95% of cases are men.

The number of people infected with the disease is growing every day. Could monkeypox become a pandemic like Covid-19?

Blumenau’s health secretary, Dr. Marcelo Lanzarin, says that’s not possible. “This is because the virus does not have the same transmission potential as Covid-19. Monkeypox is not easily transmitted and is therefore unlikely to become a pandemic,” he emphasizes.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus, which belongs to the family Poxviridae.

To try to control the disease, Blumenau adopted the leadership of Dive (State Office of Epidemiological Surveillance) and led teams working in primary health care regarding the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of cases that might occur in the city.

Symptoms

For the public to be aware, the main symptoms of the disease are fever and rash, but people may also have chills and swelling of small glands, especially in the neck.

Health Minister Blumenau emphasizes the importance of personal hygiene. “As with other diseases, personal hygiene is very important. People with lesions and skin rashes are advised to avoid sharing personal items such as fabrics such as clothes and towels. To date, it is known that transmission of infection can occur through droplets of saliva or body fluids. People are advised to avoid hugging, massaging, kissing or talking too closely with infected people,” he says.

In addition, he advises anyone who is suspected of having a disease to seek help from a city medical facility.