What we know so far about the two suspected cases of Ebola in Brazil
Health authorities in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are investigating two suspected cases of Ebola. The patients have recently been to African countries.
In the capital of São Paulo, the Adolfo Lutz Institute informed CNN Brasil that the man tested positive for meningitis. In Rio, the diagnosis was malaria.
Even so, the two remain isolated and under observation until suspicions are ruled out.
Case of São Paulo
The traveler from São Paulo is 37 years old and was recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country facing an Ebola epidemic and which has 220 deaths under investigation.
The man is isolated at the Emilio Ribas Institute, a reference in the care of suspected and confirmed cases, under the established biosafety protocols.
On Saturday night (30), he was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. The diagnosis was confirmed by the Adolfo Lutz Institute, also in the capital of São Paulo. Even so, clinical tests are being carried out to rule out the suspicion of Ebola.
The Ministry of Health said, in a note sent to CNN Brasil, that the patient arrived in serious condition at an Emergency Care Unit (UPA), where the case was initially investigated as malaria.
"Upon arriving at the reference unit, he was in a serious condition, with diarrhea, disorientation and rapid clinical worsening, requiring intubation", says the document.
The agency also stated that it was notified about the situation and that the measures provided for in the National Contingency Plan were adopted in cases of possible viral infection.
"There is laboratory confirmation of the bacteria that causes meningococcal meningitis by the Adolfo Lutz Institute, within the differential diagnosis process. Even so, the investigation for Ebola remains ongoing until specific analyzes are completed", says Regiane de Paula, Health coordinator of the SES-SP Disease Control Coordination.
Case of Rio de Janeiro
The patient came from Uganda, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo and which has seen an increase in the number of cases. His age was not disclosed and he presented symptoms such as diarrhea, chills and cough and was subjected to the safety protocol for care and isolation until he receives a conclusive diagnosis.
This case was diagnosed as malaria, but he remains in isolation at the Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, until clinical tests rule out Ebola.
The Epidemiological Surveillance of SES - RJ, together with the state's Health Surveillance, is retracing the man's steps to map people who may have had contact with him.
How is Ebola transmitted?
The Ebola virus can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids from an infected person, including animals and corpses, or through contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. These fluids can be: blood, feces, vomit, urine, saliva, vaginal fluid, semen, tears and sweat.
The risk of Ebola contagion is lower compared to Covid-19, for example, as the Ebola virus is not transmitted through the air. This makes the risks of a new pandemic small.
Another thing that makes the risk of transmission lower is that, with Ebola, there is no transmission during the incubation period. The infection generally becomes transmissible from the moment the patient already shows symptoms, which facilitates contact tracing and disease control.
"The outbreak is worrying, but the risk of a pandemic similar to that of Covid is small. This time, the outbreak took a while to be detected because the United Nations suffered a dismantling of program resources in Africa", said infectious disease doctor Mirian Dal Ben, from Hospital Sírio-Libanês, in a recent interview with CNN Brasil.
Ebola patients may experience symptoms between 2 and 21 days after infection, which may include fever, body aches and fatigue. As the infection progresses, the illness typically causes diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding.
How can you prevent Ebola?
As there is still no vaccine against Ebola, the recommendation is to avoid contact with animals or sick people who may have the virus. The main measures, according to the Ministry of Health, are:
- Avoid outbreak areas;
- Wash your hands frequently;
- Avoid contact with infected people;
- Do not handle bodies of infected people.
Ebola: what it is, symptoms and treatment
Source: CNN