Health officials will be required to report new cases of monkeypox within 24 hours. The decision was taken by the Ministry of Health and published this Thursday (1st) in the Official Gazette. Regulation No. 3418 lists the disease on the National List of Required Notifications for Diseases, Injuries, and Public Health Events.

Department of Health publishes regulation requiring professionals to notify cases within 24 hours – Photo: CDC/Reproduction/ND

A rule signed by Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga stipulates that cases must be reported directly to the ministry.

According to the epidemiological bulletin of the Ministry of Health published this Wednesday (31), Brazil already has 5,037 confirmed cases, in addition to another 5,391 suspected cases under investigation. The state with the highest number of cases, São Paulo, has 3,001 infected people. Another 675 in Rio de Janeiro and 278 in Minas Gerais.

Santa Catarina

According to a report this Thursday (1) by Dive/SC (Santa Catarina Epidemiological Surveillance Authority), 102 people have been diagnosed with the disease in the state. Another 336 cases are under investigation.

In Florianopolis, the state’s leading city in terms of the number of infected, 36 people with this disease.

Information about monkeypox

The Ministry of Health explains that monkeypox can be transmitted through close contact with an infected person. Transmission can be through hugging, kissing, massage, or sexual intercourse. The disease can also be transmitted through the respiratory tract and through contact with objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding or towels) and surfaces used by the sick person.

Among the main symptoms of monkeypox are skin ulcers; languages; heat; bodily pain; Headache; chills and weakness. The ministry encourages people to see a doctor if they notice any of these signs.