Brazil records first mpox death in 2026
Brazil has logged its first mpox death of 2026, but officials are not treating the surge in cases as an outbreak, according to a public health institute.
Brazil recorded its first mpox death of 2026, but public health officials are not declaring the increase in cases an outbreak, according to the Fiocruz Institute. This year, Brazil has confirmed 1,009 mpox infections, with the majority occurring in the populous states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The death occurred in Rio de Janeiro, where positive cases between September and November doubled compared to the rest of the year.
The government has intensified surveillance and acquired 25,000 new doses of an mpox vaccine, but has not treated the rise in cases as an outbreak as the number remains significantly lower than the historic peak seen in 2022. Mpox, caused by a virus related to smallpox, can lead to fever, muscle aches, and large, boil-like skin lesions, and can be fatal.
Humans can contract the virus through contact with infected animals, but it can also spread between people via close physical contact. The World Health Organization declared mpox a public health emergency in 2022 and 2024 due to its rapid spread in certain countries.
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