RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With an outbreak of the virus detected in the states of Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina, vaccination against yellow fever is being intensified in the South Region.
Vaccination actions began in August and continue until December, the months that precede the seasonal period of the disease in the three states, which occurs from December to May.
During a video conference by the Ministry of Health, authorities of the state of Santa Catarina presented an action plan to address the disease before the seasonal period. The goal is for municipalities to actively search for unvaccinated people.
The detection of the virus outbreak in the South Region occurred at the beginning of this year in Paraná in January and in Santa Catarina in March. In 2019, through May 31st, 85 cases and 15 deaths caused by the disease were confirmed in the country, with 14 cases and three deaths in the South. Most of the infected people were young male adults who live or work in rural areas.
The measure is preventive and seeks to sensitize the surveillance teams and vaccinate people who are nine months of age and older. The schedule of actions also includes the organization of a care network, clinical management protocols, and epidemiological investigation in strategic areas.
The vaccination strategy in the southern states will also expand the age range of the target audience. The recommendation is to extend it to people over 60 years of age “because it is in line with the risk assessment that defined the priority areas for vaccination actions”.
For people who travel to areas where the vaccine is recommended, the recommendation is to have the vaccination at least 10 days before the trip.
According to the substitute coordinator of Arboviruses Surveillance of the Ministry of Health, Noely Moura, studies show the possible routes of transmission of the yellow fever virus, which highlights a warning sign for the intensification of surveillance and vaccination actions, especially in these areas.