Mpox Scare at Brazil’s Main International Airport Sparks Health Checks Amid Growing Concerns

A suspected mpox case has emerged at Brazil's primary international airport, São Paulo’s Guarulhos, raising concerns amid over 700 confirmed or probable cases in the country this year. The passenger showed symptoms similar to the virus, prompting immediate health checks and sanitation measures by Anvisa.

A suspected case of mpox has been reported at Brazil's main international airport near Sao Paulo, health and sanitation regulator Anvisa said on Monday.

A passenger in an area designated for those requesting refugee status since earlier this month exhibited signs and symptoms compatible with mpox, according to Anvisa. The agency did not disclose the passenger's travel origin or home country, who was subsequently sent to the hospital.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years as a new variant of the virus spread rapidly in Africa. Brazil's health ministry reported over 700 confirmed or probable mpox cases this year, none of which are of the new variant.

Anvisa did not confirm if the potential case was of the new variant and said no other suspected cases were found. Over 650 migrants without visas, primarily from India, Nepal, and Vietnam, were waiting at Guarulhos airport as of Friday. A spokesman for the public defender's office alleged that the migrants' human rights were being violated with deteriorating health conditions.

Last week, Brazil's government announced it would tighten entry rules to stop foreigners from using Brazil as a stopover to reach the United States and Canada. Anvisa stated that it checked temperatures and examined the skin of other passengers in the restricted area, also implementing cleaning and disinfection measures.