The state government, through the Ministry of Health (Sesa), monitors Paraná spotted fever with technical teams from the Department of Vector-Borne Diseases. The disease, which is transmitted by star ticks, had its first confirmed case in the province in 2006, in the municipality of Itambaraca, located in the northern region. This year, one case has been confirmed in Foz do Iguaçu in the Western Region, in addition to 43 notifications.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a febrile, contagious disease caused by bacteria of the genus rickettsiaTransmitted by tick bites. This species is most easily found in places near forests with high humidity. This type of tick also “settles” on animals such as cattle, horses, capybaras, dogs and through them comes into contact with people, which requires an epidemiological link with the carrier – the infected tick.
According to a survey conducted by Sesa, since 2018, 42 cases of the disease have been confirmed. Last year, there were 63 notifications, nine confirmed cases and two deaths, which occurred in the municipality of Ribeirao Claro, which is covered by the 19th district of Jacarezinho. There were five cases in 2018; 19 confirmations in 2019; 10 in 2020; and one case in 2021.
The Department of Health published a Technical Note 001/2019 With epidemiological surveillance data, disease characteristics, symptoms, care, management and treatment. Each suspected case requires immediate notification, registered with the Notifiable Disease Information System (SINAN), by filling out the Rocky Mountain Spotted Investigation Form.
Illness is monitored in Paraná through our environmental monitoring. We are careful, with trained teams and are constantly doing courses and updates with the Ministry of Health. If suspected, health services should be sought immediately,” warns the Secretary of State for Health, Beto Brito.
procedures – In April of this year, a training was held to deepen knowledge about star ticks. The event, which brought together technicians from the Ministry of Health, as well as doctors from Fiocruz / RJ and specialists from the 22 health districts of Paraná, sought to expand the capacity for host identification, facilitating diagnosis and, therefore, an appropriate diagnosis. Care.
In January of this year, due to the two deaths that occurred in 19 Republika Srpska last year, a training was conducted for all the municipalities covered by this region, in addition to meeting with the health care teams of the 5th Region of Guarapuava on “Clinical Management of Rocky Mountain Fever” maculatus”, with the aim of preparing healthcare teams for the disease.
Previously, in November 2022, a technical meeting on the disease was held, where professionals were trained in vector environmental monitoring, addressing disease management and tick field capture practices (cortical surveillance).
symptoms – The main symptoms of the disease are sudden fever, headache and body aches, which may or may not be accompanied by the appearance of red spots between the second and fifth day of the development of the disease or hemorrhagic manifestations, and among the symptoms presented by people who may have contracted the disease.
Sesa recommends that patients presenting with these characteristics seek medical care in health units in municipalities so that the diagnosis, as well as treatment, can be made as soon as possible, because it is a serious and rapidly developing disease, but that there is a cure if it is offered in time.
It is important that the population informs the health team of the presence of a tick bite or possible contact with the vector in order to direct the management of the case as firmly as possible.
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