São Paulo University cultures monkeypox virus to expand testing

Researchers from the Virology Laboratory of the Institute of Tropical Medicine (IMT) of the University of São Paulo (USP) are cultivating cell lineages of the monkeypox virus. Under the initiative, samples of the inactivated virus should be distributed to public and private laboratories as well as other study centers across Brazil.

The move aims to promote research into treatments and vaccines and to help scientists understand viral evolution, representatives from the USP Medical School declared. The laboratories will also be able to use the material to expand the amount of diagnostic testing for the disease, currently limited in the country due to the lack of monkeypox-specific reagents.

The Brazilian Ministry of Health yesterday (Jun 20) confirmed the eighth case of the virus registered in the country. The patient is a 25-year-old man who lives in Maricá, Rio de Janeiro state. He did not travel abroad, but had recent contact with foreigners.

Of the eight cases confirmed in the country so far, four were notified in the state of São Paulo, two in Rio Grande do Sul, and two in Rio de Janeiro. Six cases are under investigation.