Brazilian hemorrhagic fever case reported in São Paulo state

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

For the first time in 20 years, Brazil health authorities are reporting (computer translated) a confirmed case of Brazilian hemorrhagic fever.

During this period, there were four cases in humans, three cases acquired in a wild environment in the state of São Paulo and one due to infection in a laboratory environment, in Pará.

The disease is considered to be extremely rare and highly lethal, and treatment is according to the patient’s clinical condition and symptoms.

The disease incubation period is long (on average 7 to 21 days) and begins with fever, malaise, muscle pain, red spots on the body, sore throat, stomach and behind the eyes, headache, dizziness, sensitivity to light, constipation and bleeding from mucous membranes such as mouth and nose. As the disease progresses, there may be neurological impairment (drowsiness, mental confusion, changes in behavior and convulsion).

Between the onset of symptoms (12/30/2019) and death (11/01/2020), the patient passed through three different hospitals in the municipalities of Eldorado, Pariquera-Açu and São Paulo, the last being the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (HCFM USP). There was no history of international travel.

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During his service, tests were carried out to identify diseases, such as yellow fever, viral hepatitis, leptospirosis, dengue and Zika. However, the results were negative for these diseases. Complementary exams were carried out at the Special Techniques Laboratory of Hospital Albert Einstein, which identified arenavirus, which causes Brazilian hemorrhagic fever. This result was confirmed by the Medical Research Laboratory of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Hospital das Clínicas, USP Medical School and Adolfo Lutz Institute.

In addition, SVS / MS has already communicated the fact to the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization (WHO / PAHO), in accordance with established international protocols.

CURRENT SITUATION

At this time, the source of the patient’s contamination is not confirmed. What is known is that people contract the disease possibly through the inhalation of particles formed from the urine, feces and saliva of infected rodents. Transmission of arenaviruses from person to person can occur when there is very close and prolonged contact or in hospital environments, when protective equipment is not used, through contact with blood, urine, feces, saliva, vomit, semen and other secretions or excretions. .

The employees of the hospitals where the patient passed are being monitored and evaluated, as well as the family members of the confirmed case in São Paulo.

On Monday (20), the Ministry of Health convened a meeting with representatives of all parties involved in the case: Secretariat of São Paulo, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and the National Councils and State Health (Conass and Conasems). The purpose of the meeting was to verify the current scenario and the search and monitoring actions of people who had direct contact with the patient.

The Ministry of Health also offered support to the São Paulo Department of Health, by sending a team of technicians to actively search for people who had contact with the patient and for environmental research.