Ministry of Health raises alarm over oropoucha fever

The measure was adopted after the identification of the viral antibody in samples from cases of abortion and microcephaly.

A recommendation to States and Municipalities to intensify health surveillance for the possibility of vertical transmission of the virus oropoucha virus was released this week by the Ministry of Health (MS).

According to the ministry, the measure was adopted after the Evandro Chagas Institute, linked to the ministry, detected the presence of the viral antibody in samples from one abortion case and four miscarriages. microcephaly.

“This means that the virus is transmitted from the pregnant woman to the fetus, but it is not possible to say that there is a relationship between the infection and death and neurological malformations,” the ministry said in a statement published on Thursday 11.

In the document, the Ministry advises states and municipalities to intensify surveillance also in the last months of pregnancy and in monitoring children of women who have had dengue infections, zika AND chikungunya or oropoucha fever.

The ministry also recommends collecting samples and filling out the notification form; that the population be informed about protective measures for pregnant women, such as avoiding areas with the presence of maruins (a type of insect) and mosquitoes, installing mosquito nets on doors and windows, wearing clothes that cover a large part of the body and applying repellents.

According to the ministry, the service for detecting oropouche cases was extended to the entire country in 2023, after the ministry made diagnostic tests available to the entire national network of central public health laboratories (Lacen). With this, the Cases, until then concentrated mainly in the Northern Region, have begun to be identified in other regions of the country as well..

“The discovery strengthens the effectiveness of epidemiological surveillance in the SUS, especially in relation to the possible vertical transmission of diseases, essential to anticipate diagnoses and protect pregnant women and newborns,” the ministry informed.

Symptoms

Oropouche fever is a disease caused by the arbovirus Orthobunyavirus oropoucheense (OROV). Symptoms include:

• sudden fever,
• headache, muscle aches, joint pain, and pain in the back of the eyes
• dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting.

In about 60% of patients, some symptoms, such as fever and headache, persist for two weeks. There is no treatment for the disease. Prevention is based on protection against mosquito transmission.

Oropouche fever was first identified in Brazil in 1960. Isolated cases and epidemics have subsequently been reported, mainly in the Amazon region.

Cases of the disease have also been reported in Panama, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. With the expansion of the investigation into the contagion in the country, 7,044 cases have been confirmed, with local transmission in 16 states.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.