Underwhelming monkeypox response in Mexican and Brazilian raises criticism

Francisco developed lesions shortly after returning from California to Mexico City in late June. First, he had two spots on both his buttocks. One week later, he was afflicted by lesions all over the body. His mouth was so sore that he couldn’t speak or drink.

Francisco, 44 years old, stated that “the pain was indescribable, devastating” and asked Reuters not to reveal his real identity.

Francisco was infected with monkeypox, one of at most 59 cases that were confirmed in Mexico between May and June. Experts believe this could be an underestimate.

Mexico is second in Latin America behind Peru and Brazil for confirmed cases. The virus has been most prevalent among gay and bisexual men such as Francisco.

On July 23, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox an emergency, prompting more attention from officials in other regions. However, activists and doctors in two of Latin America’s largest countries said that the response has been slow.

“We aren’t seeing the necessary steps taken nor the importance given to monkeypox,” Dr. Sergio Montalvo, a Mexico City-based sexual health specialist, said.

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Montalvo is one of many doctors who fear the authorities will not learn from the COVID-19 Pandemic that has crippled health systems and left governments in cash bind.

The situation is similar in Brazil where 970 infections make up more than two-thirds according to data from Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Brazil’s Health Ministry has announced a contingency strategy on July 28, just one month after it reported its first case, and the day before reporting the first death from monkeypox in Africa.

Vinicius Borges from Sao Paulo, an infectious disease specialist, said, “We were already getting news about the outbreaks in Europe and the United States. But the government didn’t do anything.” He claimed that pain from monkeypox lesion has had “serious” effects on his patients.

Multiple requests for interviews were not answered by Brazil or Mexico’s health ministries.

Mexico’s Health Ministry has launched a website on monkeypox, its second advisory and information about the virus following the WHO declaration. This is the first website since May when the country confirmed that there was a case.

Ricardo Baruch (a LGBT health researcher) said that “in these two months we could have already made substantial progress.” He organized a protest in Mexico City last Wednesday to demand greater prevention efforts for men who sex with women (MSM).

According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, 98% of the current outbreaks in Africa were reported by gay and bisexual men.

Mexican health officials have not stressed the dangers to this group.

Baruch stated that while they don’t want stigma to build, if they don’t talk about it, policies won’t be focused on them.

Natalia Pasternak, microbiologist, expressed concern about Brazil’s messaging.

Pasternak stated that there has been no effort by the federal government to increase awareness about monkeypox. He said it is not known how to recognize lesions on the skin, and how to transmit it through close or sexual contact.

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Marcelo Queiroga, Health Minister of Brazil, stated that Brazil had done its homework to prepare for the July 25th elections. He pointed to four laboratories performing testing.

Pasternak said, however, that it will take time to build Brazil’s testing capacity. He is also a member of the monkeypox advisory panel in Sao Paulo. “We don’t think the intention is there for the health ministry of doing this planning.”

PAHO announced July 27 that 10 countries from the region expressed interest in getting a vaccine. This is a sign of possible progress.

Dr. Andrea Vicari is the director of infectious risk management at PAHO. She said that it wasn’t too late to stop monkeypox spreading in the Americas.

“Even if there are no vaccines, there are other control measures. These control measures can be implemented well to achieve our goal of reducing transmission.