Nursing Technician Hospitalized with Suspected Mpox in Santa Catarina

A nursing technician in Santa Catarina, Brazil, has been hospitalized with suspected mpox, according to reporting from ND Mais on April 10, 2026. The case highlights the ongoing presence of the virus within the region’s healthcare environment.

Mpox is a viral zoonosis that has been monitored and responded to by Brazilian epidemiological surveillance since May 2022. The hospitalization of a healthcare worker underscores the potential for occupational exposure, although strict infection prevention and control measures are designed to mitigate these risks.

Mpox Trends in Santa Catarina

Data from a retrospective descriptive study analyzing confirmed mpox cases in Santa Catarina from 2022 to 2024 reveals the scale of the virus’s impact in the state. During this period, there were 2,922 notifications and 508 confirmed cases of mpox.

The distribution of cases was not uniform across the state. Florianópolis accounted for 189 of the confirmed cases, representing 37.2% of the total recorded in Santa Catarina.

Demographic analysis showed a statistically significant association between sex and age group. The virus predominantly affected young men, with the 20–29 age group representing 29.85% of all confirmed cases. There was a significant association between race or color and the year of notification; white individuals predominated in 2022 at 66.03%, while distribution became more heterogeneous in the following years.

Transmission and Clinical Manifestations

Mpox is primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected lesions. This includes transmission during sexual intercourse, as well as through respiratory droplets, aerosols, and contact with contaminated animals or objects.

Individuals infected with the virus may experience a variety of clinical manifestations. Common symptoms include:

• Rash or skin lesions
• Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes)
• Fever
• Headache
• Myalgia (muscle aches)
• Chills
• Asthenia (physical weakness or lack of energy)

Infection Control in Healthcare Settings

The risk of nosocomial transmission—the acquisition of an infection within a hospital or healthcare facility—is a recognized occupational hazard for healthcare providers. To prevent the spread of the monkeypox virus (MPXV), health agencies emphasize the implementation of rigorous infection prevention and control (IPC) practices.

According to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated on February 9, 2026, healthcare providers should use Standard Precautions when treating patients suspected of having an MPXV infection. Additional measures include specific protocols for patient placement, patient management, waste management, and environmental infection controls.

Environmental cleaning is a critical component of these precautions. In some settings, cleaning protocols for rooms occupied by suspected or positive mpox cases involve the use of a hypochlorite solution with a concentration of 1,000 ppm to disinfect surfaces.

The CDC notes that transmission in healthcare settings has been rare in the United States due to the consistent use of recommended IPC practices and personal protective equipment (PPE). For example, a study of 313 healthcare personnel exposed to mpox patients in Colorado reported no infections among the exposed staff.

Healthcare facilities are advised to notify infection prevention and control personnel immediately upon the suspicion of an MPXV infection. For staff who may have been exposed, risk assessment and monitoring guidelines are used to determine if post-exposure prophylaxis is necessary.