In Brazil, primates have been poisoned and physically attacked due to concerns that they may be linked to monkeypox epidemics.
Much like the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation about the virus abounds on social media. This is a very predictable trend. Only this time, the poor animal fell victim to a conspiracy theory.
Numerous attacks forced the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue a statement that the outbreak was not related to monkeys.
"What people need to know is that the contagion we are seeing is occurring among humans," spokesperson Margaret Harris told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday.
"They shouldn't attack animals."
According to Brazilian news site G110 monkeys were killed in less than an hour. It appears that he was either poisoned or intentionally wounded. A week in the nature reserve of Rio Preto, São Paulo.
This came after his three cases of monkeypox were reported in the area.
Authorities believe such attacks, which have also been seen in other parts of the country, are driven by fears that they are linked to the disease.
Ms Harris added: The concern, therefore, is where in the human population it is contagious and what can be done to protect it from acquiring it and transmitting it. It spreads the infection because people are afraid to admit they are infected, so they can't get treatment or take preventive measures.
"So, Don't blame animals or humans, because that would cause a much larger outbreak."
Brazil is one of the countries most affected by the outbreak and is currently dealing with more than 1,700 cases.
It is also one of the only countries outside of Africa to have died from the virus.
As of 2 August, 25,391 cases were confirmed and 12 deaths were reported.
Almost everyone lives in a country that has never historically reported the disease.
Please contact the news team by sending an email to webnews@metro.co.uk.
See news pagesfor articles like this one.
