Advance of more aggressive dengue virus concerns the health sector
Of the 2.2 thousand reports of the disease in 2016, 6.4% were the severest form
15/08/2016
According to Dr. Marcos Boulos, the control measures do not change with the circulating serotype and greater and better capacitation of health professionals is needed
Pointed by experts as the severest type of dengue, viral serotype 2 represents 6.4% of the 2,204 cases of the disease reported from January to June 2016. In the same period, 318 deaths related to the disease were reported. The numbers are from the last epidemiologic report from the Health Ministry.
Transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, dengue is classified in viral serotypes DENV1, DENV2, DENV3 and DENV4. Dengue type 1 is the most common and represents 90.1% of the reported cases until June 2016. The 3 and 4 types represent 0.9% and 2.6% respectively.
The great amount of people infected by type 1 in the last years could explain the increase of type 2 cases. Once infected by one of the serotypes, the patient becomes immune to that specific virus, increasing the chance of infection by the more severe types. This is what Doctor Marcos Boulos explains, coordinator of Disease Control at the State Health Secretary: Since we had an intense circulation of dengue 1, the rise of a new serotype brings concerns of greater incidence of the diseases severest forms.
Still according to the Health Ministrys epidemiological report, until June 2016 1,345,286 probable dengue cases were reported. Of these, 59.9% were reported in the Southeast region, i.e., 806,495 suspected dengue infections. Subsequently comes Northeast with 276,843 cases, Center-West (146,693), South (80,419) and North (34,836). During the same period, 429,895 cases were discarded.
For Dr. Marcos Boulos the control measures do not change with the circulating serotype. There is indeed a need of greater and better training of health professionals. We must keep combating the Aedes and begin the actions before summer, so the number of arboviral diseases is supported by the health system, he said.
Despite the increase of serotype 2 infections, if compared to the same period in 2015, the total reports of the disease decreased. The most recent data confirmed 511 cases of severe cases and 5,570 cases of dengue with alarm signs. In 2015, 1,365 cases of the severe cases and 18,619 of dengue with alarm signs were reported.…
