Rio de Janeiro reports two cases of chikungunya.
The Rio de Janeiro State Health Department has identified two cases of chikungunya fever in the state; according to the department, both cases of infection, which can be transmitted by the dengue mosquito, occurred abroad; a third suspected case is being investigated by health agents; according to health authorities in Rio and the federal government, there is no evidence that the virus is circulating in Brazil.
From Agência Brasil. Edited by: Carolina Pimentel
The Rio de Janeiro State Health Department has identified two cases of chikungunya fever in the state. According to the department, both cases of infection, which can be transmitted by the dengue mosquito, occurred abroad. A third suspected case is being investigated by health officials. According to health authorities in Rio and the federal government, there is no evidence that the virus is circulating in Brazil.
The two patients diagnosed with the virus in the state of Rio are clinically well and there have been no complications. According to the superintendent of Epidemiological and Environmental Surveillance of the state health department, Alexandre Chieppe, both presented symptoms very typical of the disease and are already at home. "We have already structured the entire laboratory diagnosis of the disease, and today Rio is able to make the diagnosis. With this, the health services have already been alerted, including regarding the notification flow for suspected cases, and the flow for laboratory confirmation of these suspected cases," he informed.
The state health department did not specify in which municipality the two patients live. According to the department's statement, "environmental management was carried out near residences and workplaces. This precaution is likely to be enhanced by measures already recommended for combating Aedes aegypti, such as avoiding the improper storage of water in containers."
According to Chieppe, the guidance is for health units to inform municipal and state health departments of any cases involving symptoms of the disease, such as fever, joint pain, and headache.
"It has some differences compared to dengue, even though the virus is transmitted by the same mosquito. It has a particularity in that it tends not to evolve into severe forms with the same intensity as dengue," said Chieppe. "On the other hand, Chikungunya tends to cause more protracted clinical cases," he explained.
Symptoms typically last from three to ten days, and according to the Pan American Health Organization, mortality is rare and less frequent compared to dengue cases. The fever, which circulates mainly in Asian and African countries, has recently been identified in Central America.
Last year, the Ministry of Health developed a national contingency plan for the disease, which aims to intensify surveillance activities; prepare the health network's response; train professionals; disseminate measures to the secretariats; and prepare reference laboratories for diagnosing the disease.
Since the beginning of the year, 20 cases have been identified in Brazil. According to the Ministry of Health, of the total, 17 cases were in Brazilian military personnel and missionaries who returned from missions in Haiti, and one case involved a Brazilian who traveled to the Dominican Republic. The others are two Haitians who traveled to Brazil and are now back in their country of origin.
"Even with the suspected cases, there is no evidence of the virus circulating in Rio or in Brazil, and all the evidence points to all these suspected and confirmed cases having a strong epidemiological link with countries that transmit the Chikungunya virus. The onset of symptoms occurred while traveling, and we can say with considerable certainty that the contamination happened outside the country," said Chieppe.
*Aline Leal contributed to this report.