So far, Brazil has confirmed 121 cases of monkeypox, according to a survey by the CNN. In addition to these, another 55 possible infections are being investigated in the country.
The state of São Paulo is the most affected, with 77 confirmed cases. Following is Rio de Janeiro, with 28 cases. Then appear Minas Gerais (8), Ceará (2), Paraná (2), Rio Grande do Sul (2), Rio Grande do Norte (1) and Federal District (1).
Due to the spread of the disease, the Butantan Institute, in São Paulo, created a committee to study the production of a vaccine against monkeypox. There are nine specialists gathered to present analyses, studies and proposals regarding the possible immunizing agent.
“Whereas since the cessation of smallpox vaccination, there has been an increasing incidence of reported cases and outbreaks, which is raising concerns about the future spread of the disease; whereas the Butantan Institute, in the 1970s, produced a vaccine to immunize the population against smallpox; considering the imminence of a possible outbreak of the aforementioned disease caused by the monkeypox virus […] A Technical Contingency Committee of Specialists is created, with the purpose of advising the entity”, says the ordinance published in the “Official State Gazette” approving the creation of the committee.
More than 6,000 cases worldwide
Also on Wednesday (6), the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the number of monkeypox cases around the world exceeded 6,000. According to the WHO, infections were recorded in 58 countries, 85% of them in Europe.
On the 25th, the organization stated that, until that moment, the disease was not a global health emergency. However, with today’s data, a new meeting will be called to discuss the status update.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom said he was concerned about the situation and added that the lack of testing could lead to underreporting of cases.
*With information from Carolina Figueiredo and Giulia Alecrim, from CNN
Source: CNN Brasil
