| <img src = "http://imgsapp.diariodepernambuco.com.br/app/noticia_127983242361/2019/01/31/775988/20190131212839490933a.jpg" alt = "Photo: F" title = "Photo: F" border = "0" Last year, Brazil faced another risk: coping with the increase in diphtheria without any available treatments.
There are only 12 treatments available in the Ministry of Health to use when the number of cases is low and in January he asked the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) 200 The drop of the diphtheria vaccine has been recorded over the past four years, with preliminary data for 201 The situation itself would be worrying. But the scenario gets worse when it comes to taking into account that neighboring countries are facing outbreaks of infection. With an increase in 2016, Venezuela recorded 1,102 reports of suspected cases last year, with 46 already registered this year. Also in 2018, 264 were confirmed in Haiti and 6 in Colombia. The number of people in the North and South America, coverage in the Northern Region, a portal for many migrants, is considered to be very low. In Roraima, the degree of immunization is 66%. At Acre, it is 60% and Amazon 77%. Amapá has 55% and Rondônia, the country with the best performance in the region is Rondônia, with 85% and Para with the worst, 49%. Diphtheria is an infection caused by bacteria transmitted by cough, sneezing, or contact with contaminated clothing or objects. Symptoms of infection appear two to five days after exposure. Usually this happens gradually, with a usually sore throat. "With the progression of the disease, the bacteria begin to produce a toxin that can cause airway obstruction, inflammation of the nerves and myocardium," said Oswald Cruise, a researcher Claudio Maierovic. Available vaccines protect against toxin. The serum used in the treatment of the toxin is obtained from antibodies collected from horses. "When the difficulties were identified, the solution was to centralize the supply of serum," says Myrovic, who says that the reduction in the number of stocks is due to problems in the potential for serum protection that is lower than the standardization identified a few years . has held the post of Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases Monitoring at the Department of Health, with 12 analyzes looking like a sufficient number of stocks to analyze the latest history of the disease. In 2015, she was 16. In the following year there were 4, and in 2017 5. "But in the face of cases in other countries and the decreasing range of vaccines, the risk is increasing," says the researcher. there is an outbreak of diphtheria in the same proportions as Venezuela or Haiti. "Here is a good surveillance system capable of identifying cases and blocking them by using antibiotics," he says. Even so, the researcher at Fiocruz stressed the need for preventive measures. Strengthen strategies to increase the scope of vaccination by looking for people who are not yet vaccinated, going to the field, especially in areas that are considered more susceptible. The fact that northern countries face a reduction in care that reflects changes in doctors can be a complication, says Myrovic. "The treatment of diphtheria gives work, surveillance, blockade, areas where there is shortage of specialists, are more vulnerable, but since they are farther they can be less exposed to bacteria." I think the Pan American Health Organization has issued a statement in which it warns of the need to vaccinate travelers in countries where there is a diphtheria outbreak.The recommendation is also made for healthcare professionals.In the warning, PAHO also recommends the delivery of diphtheria antitoxin and the strengthening of surveillance systems (19659011) (function d, s, id) {function (d, s, id)} { Related Articles |
