EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF MPOX CASES IN THE STATE OF BAHIA – BRAZIL

Abstract

Mpox virus (formerly called monkeypox), belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus, is responsible for the outbreak of the disease of the same name, which in 2022 acquired worldwide coverage. The disease, which was historically considered endemic in Central Africa, after changes in its epidemiological profile and expansion beyond African borders, led the World Health Organization in July to declare it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, with notification worldwide, including Brazil. In this context, the objective of this study was to draw an epidemiological profile of Mpox cases in the state of Bahia, establishing a comparative parameter with data from Brazil and the epidemiological behavior of the infection observed in the world. To this end, a descriptive, documentary and cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out, based on the investigation, collection and analysis of data on notification of cases of Mpox made available by the information system on injuries and notifications (SINAN), of the Ministry of Health. It was observed that in Bahia state, the disease mainly affected individuals identified as male, residing in the capital Salvador, aged between 18 and 39 years old, mixed race and with a university degree. Still in this scenario, there were a total of 2648 disease notifications, of which 139 were confirmed cases, with no death records so far. Regarding the distribution of notified cases of Mpox per epidemiological week (SE) of onset of symptoms, in SE 32 there was a higher incidence, with 203 cases, followed by SE 31 with 181. The characterization of the epidemiological profile of Mpox in Bahia and the comparison with data from Brazil and the world allows understanding the dynamics of the disease and those affected by it in the state, subsidizing the development of effective control and prophylaxis measures that contemplate the epidemiological context of the region.