Argentina’s Health Ministry Rules Out Mpox in Ship Coming from Brazil

Argentina’s Health Ministry has ruled out a suspected case of mpox in a crew member aboard a ship that left Brazil and was quarantined in Argentina. After lab tests, Argentine health authorities confirmed the illness was chickenpox, according to a statement from Brazil’s Health Ministry.

The Brazilian ministry noted that the ship had stopped at the Port of Santos (SP) in early August before heading to Argentina. It also emphasized that health surveillance at Brazil’s ports and airports is managed by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).

Brazil’s government reassured the public that the mpox variant 1b, which led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, is not present in Brazil. While 791 cases of mpox were confirmed in the country in 2024, all involved the known variant 2b.

“Our focus now is on strengthening surveillance to ensure quick and effective responses. Last Thursday (15th), the Health Ministry set up the Health Emergency Operations Center (COE) to coordinate actions related to the disease,” the ministry stated.

Source: Agência Brasil

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