A second case of mpox has been confirmed in the state of Ceará, Brazil, this year, according to the Ceará State Health Secretariat (Sesa) via the Integra SUS platform on Monday, March 16th.
Mpox Situation in Ceará in 2026
Details regarding the age and sex of the person diagnosed are currently unavailable. As of 2026, the state has reported:
- 27 notified cases;
- 2 confirmed cases;
- 17 discarded cases;
- 8 suspected cases.
Although the update was made on Monday, the case was recorded in February, as was the first confirmed case. This highlights the ongoing, though limited, circulation of the virus and the importance of continued monitoring.
The first case was confirmed on March 10th through the monitoring panel of the National Center for Epidemiological Intelligence and Genomic Surveillance.
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ABOUT THE FIRST PATIENT
As previously reported by Diário do Nordeste, the first patient is a 37-year-old Caucasian man who identifies as heterosexual and has sexual relations with women. The panel also indicates he has a high school education.
On that date, Sesa confirmed the first case to Diário do Nordeste and highlighted the patient’s current health status.
“This is a man who received appropriate medical care and presented a favorable clinical evolution,” the state health agency emphasized.
How is Mpox Transmitted?
The primary mode of mpox transmission is through direct person-to-person contact (skin, secretions) and close, prolonged exposure to droplets and other respiratory secretions.
Transmission occurs mainly through direct person-to-person contact with rashes and skin lesions, as well as bodily fluids (such as pus, blood from lesions) of an infected person.
How is Mpox Diagnosed?
Diagnosis is laboratory-based, through molecular testing or genetic sequencing, performed by collecting material from skin lesions.
According to the Ministry of Health, the sample to be analyzed is collected, preferably, from the secretion of the lesions. When the lesions are already dry, the scabs of the lesions are examined. Samples are sent to reference laboratories in Brazil.
