The recent death of 36-year-old singer Elymar Reis in Pará, caused by monkeypox (Mpox), has raised alarm across Northern Brazil. In Manaus, unofficial reports indicate a disturbing increase in Mpox cases, despite underreporting and official silence.
Authorities have failed to provide transparent information to the public — a move that echoes the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the fear of harming the economy led to silence and delay. Now, a similar pattern emerges: by avoiding public alerts about rising Mpox cases, officials appear more concerned with preserving tourist revenue during the upcoming festival season than protecting public health.
With the June and July festival season approaching — including the Parintins Folklore Festival, Cirandas of Manacapuru, and Boi-bumbá and Ciranda festivals in Manaus — the risk of rapid virus transmission is growing. These celebrations attract thousands of national and international visitors, making the need for public awareness and preventive action urgent.
The situation recalls the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when political and economic interests led to a lack of transparency and delayed responses. The public health system in Amazonas remains under-resourced and ill-prepared to manage another wide-scale outbreak.
Listen to the audio to understand how Mpox is transmitted and what precautions should be taken. Health professionals warn that the current public health infrastructure in Amazonas is critically unprepared to handle a surge in cases — echoing the early failures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals remain underfunded, understaffed, and ill-equipped, raising fears of a collapse should the outbreak escalate.
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