Maranhão authorities investigate deaths of five capuchin monkeys

Health and environmental teams in Pastos Bons, Maranhão, are investigating the deaths of five capuchin monkeys found in a rural area. Authorities are examining several hypotheses, including yellow fever, rabies, and environmental factors such as potential electric shocks from nearby power lines.

Internal organ samples have been sent to the Central Public Health Laboratory of Maranhão (Lacen-MA) to determine the exact cause of death. Because monkeys serve as sentinel animals for yellow fever, their sudden deaths can signal the circulation of the virus in a region before human cases are identified.