A 35-year-old Brazilian male, a healthcare worker handling mpox samples, presented with atypical symptoms including fever, myalgia, and a single, painful genital lesion, without the characteristic diffuse rash. Initial tests for common sexually transmitted infections were negative. Diagnosis was confirmed by real-time PCR from the lesion swab, identifying Monkeypox virus (MPXV). The patient recovered with symptomatic treatment. This case highlights an occupational mpox infection with an unusual, localized presentation, emphasizing the need for a broad differential diagnosis and robust infection control measures, even in healthcare settings.
Key note: Occupational mpox can present atypically with a single lesion, necessitating high clinical suspicion for timely diagnosis.