Anvisa suggests mask and solitude to delay the arrival of smallpox

The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) is calling for enhanced non-pharmaceutical measures, such as distancing, mask wearing and frequent hand hygiene, at airports and planes, to delay the entry of the monkeypox virus into Brazil.

Since the beginning of the month, at least 120 cases of the disease have been confirmed in 15 countries. Yesterday, the Ministry of Health set up an operating room to monitor the monkeypox scenario in Brazil.

The rare disease may arrive in the next few days, according to experts Estadão has heard. On Sunday, suspected cases were reported in neighboring Argentina.

Monkeypox is actually an indigenous disease of wild rodents, but is initially isolated in monkeys. It is common in Africa, but very rare on other continents.

Read also: Monkeypox: a Brazilian diagnosed with the disease for the first time in Germany

Scientists believe an ecological imbalance is the reason behind the current outbreak, but they see no reason to panic. “I find it very difficult not to (the disease) get here,” said the president of the Federal District Infectious Diseases Association, Jose David Orbiz. “But it is a disease that is considered benign.” In addition, there are treatments and vaccines.

But a caveat is necessary, according to Anna Sarah Levine, chief of the division of infectious and parasitic diseases at Hospital das Clínicas at the University of the South Pacific.

“This personal transmission is a little worrisome, we have to understand if there is an adaptation of the virus or very intense contact between people.”

“It’s another problem that adds to our current situation,” Orbiez said. “The positive point is that our monitoring is very sensitive, and its ability to detect problems in real time.”

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