29 Sep 2022 | 02:19 PM UTC
Central and South America: Officials report confirmed monkeypox cases in multiple countries in South America through September /update 6
Confirmed monkeypox cases in multiple countries in South America, especially Brazil, through September. Use basic health precautions.
Event
Health officials in Central and South America continue to identify monkeypox cases, with 13,693 confirmed cases reported Jun. 2-Sept. 29. Most cases are reported from Brazil (7,624 confirmed, 529 probable). Disease activity has also been reported in Peru (2,449 confirmed cases), Colombia (2,042 confirmed cases), Chile (880 confirmed, eight probable), Argentina (326 confirmed cases), Bolivia (185 confirmed cases), Ecuador (120 confirmed, one probable), Guatemala (24 confirmed, four probable), Panama (14 confirmed cases), Uruguay (eight confirmed cases), Honduras (six confirmed cases), El Salvador (five confirmed cases), Venezuela (five confirmed cases), Costa Rica (four confirmed cases), and Paraguay (one confirmed case). As disease surveillance and contact tracing continue, officials will likely identify additional cases in the coming weeks. This report represents the most updated information as of Sept. 29.
Context
In contrast to past sporadic cases linked to travel to endemic countries, health officials have not confirmed the source of infection for the current outbreak, which is primarily centered in Europe. Human-to-human transmission occurs among people in close physical contact, with the increase in recent cases linked to sexual contact, suggesting that the virus linked to the disease can be sexually transmitted. The current outbreak highlights the importance of vigilant safe sexual practices and suggests monkeypox can be transmitted while the infected person displays few or no symptoms; however, the risk is currently assessed as low for individuals not routinely engaging with multiple or anonymous sexual partners.
Monkeypox does not naturally occur in South America; most cases are reported in West and Central Africa, primarily in the DRC, Nigeria, and Cameroon, among individuals who report contact with wild primates or other mammals which may harbor the disease.
Monkeypox is caused by a virus belonging to the same family as the one that causes smallpox. However, monkeypox is not the same as smallpox, and it does not have the same capacity for rapid human-to-human transmission. Monkeypox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected rodents or primates. Human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through close personal contact with an infected individual via respiratory droplets, direct contact with bodily fluids, or indirect contact with lesion material (e.g., contaminated clothing or bedding). Symptoms typically appear 6-16 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle aches and backaches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.
Advice
Practice basic health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding obviously ill individuals. Avoid overcrowded areas, such as nightclubs, and consider using safe sexual practices, such as physical barriers (condoms), in countries reporting monkeypox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas. Vaccines are available but limited.
