RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Health has confirmed nine suspected cases of coronavirus in Brazil on Wednesday, January 29th.
There are three cases in São Paulo, two in Santa Catarina, one in Minas Gerais, one in Rio de Janeiro, one in Paraná, and one in Ceará. According to the new bulletin, 33 patients with suspected cases have already been reported, but only nine are under investigation. The remainder have been discarded or excluded because they do not meet the World Health Organization (WHO) defined criteria.
With the change in the classification of suspected cases – since Tuesday, January 28th, all people coming from China and displaying respiratory symptoms in approximately 15 days fall into this classification – the Ministry believes that the number of reports will increase in the coming days.
Formerly, the scenario would only be deemed suspected when an individual had visited the Wuhan region or had contact with an infected person. Bulletins of the epidemiological situation of the coronavirus in Brazil will be published daily as of Wednesday.
The Ministry pointed out that, initially, it does not intend to adopt any radical measures. The main recommendation will be to advise the population on how to prevent the infection. The precautions are the same as for the H1N1: avoid close contact with people with symptoms of respiratory infection; wash the hands frequently with soap and water and practice the so-called “cough etiquette” (keep distance when coughing or sneezing, use a tissue to protect the mouth or nose and wash the hands afterwards).
However, this may be reviewed at any time. The ministry points out that, as it is the summer, the likelihood of intensive circulation of the virus in the country, as it is in China, is unlikely.
So far, only one laboratory does the coronavirus diagnostic test. In the coming days, two new laboratories linked to the government will be empowered to perform the tests, which will increase the testing capacity for potential cases of the disease.
Source: Veja