The country accounts for about 72% of deaths from the disease in the world
Brazil accounts for nearly 96% of cases Chikungunya confirmed this year in the Americas, according to data released by World Health Organization (WHO). The country also accounts for about 72% of deaths from the disease worldwide.
Between January 1 and September 20, Brazil recorded 96,159 confirmed cases and 111 deaths. Over the same period, the Americas region reported a total of 228,591 suspected cases, including 100,329 confirmed cases and 115 deaths.
There have been 445,271 global cases reported, both suspected and confirmed, and 155 deaths across 40 countries. The numbers include both indigenous cases, when the disease is acquired right where the person lives, as well as imported cases, where the patient contracts the disease after travel.
Which relates the progress of the disease mainly to the expansion of mosquitoes Aedes aegypti AND Aedes albopictusdriven by disorderly urbanization, lack of sanitation, failures in vector control programs and Climate change. Increased human mobility and international trade also contribute to the spread.
Resurgence of the disease
Who underlines that the distribution of the case is heterogeneous. Some regions report smaller numbers compared to 2024. This is the case in the Philippines, where there was a 78% reduction. On the other hand, there are places with large increases, such as Indonesia, which saw an increase of around 158%.
The uneven distribution, the agency said, highlights a resurgence of the disease in specific geographic areas, not a global increase trend.
Some cases, however, deserve to be highlighted. China’s Guangdong province, for example, reported 16,452 indigenous cases as of September 27. It is the largest documented disease outbreak in China so far.
The report cites that the risk is higher in places with environmental conditions conducive to breeding of transmitting mosquitoes, failures in surveillance and diagnosis, as well as increased movement of people. Therefore, the organization recommends strengthening epidemiological surveillance, intensifying vector monitoring and control, and improving public health preparedness.
Symptoms and treatment
The Chikungunya virus is transmitted by the female bite of the genus Aedes infected. The disease is characterized by a sharp onset of fever, often accompanied by red spots on the skin and severe, debilitating pain in the joints, which can persist for weeks, months or even years.
Patients at an older age, such as newborns and the elderly, and those with underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are at greater risk of developing serious illness and requiring hospitalization.
There is no specific antiviral treatment for the disease, and drugs are used for pain and fever relief.
Vaccine
In April this year, Brazil approved The first vaccine against the disease. Developed by Austrian pharmaceutical company Valneva and produced in Germany, the immunizer contains weakened living microorganisms that stimulate the immune system without causing disease.
Second National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA)Clinical studies in adults and adolescents have shown that the immunizer helps the body induce the production of neutralizing antibodies against the virus.
The application for registration in the country was submitted in collaboration with Butantan Institute and, with the approval of Anvisa, The vaccine can be applied to the population for 18 years. But it is not yet commercialized.
Source: Terra
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.
