Alert to the occurrence of measles in South America

The Venezuelan Society of Public Health and Network Defend National Epidemiology alerted about the measles epidemic suffered by the indigenous Yanomami group in the municipality of Alto Orinoco, State of Amazonas due to lack of vaccination and inadequate coverage of the health system in this difficult access area.

They reported that up to July 7, 121 cases of measles had been recorded in this municipality, mostly Sanema indigenous, a Yanomami subgroup, of which 53 died. In one report, experts reported that the virus began to affect the communities of Alto Ocamo-Parima in March. However, since these areas are very difficult to access due to their location and environmental conditions, the number of contagious people is not specified.

They pointed out that the spread of the disease is due to the fact that these indigenous communities they have not been vaccinated against measles and other diseases. In addition, they warned that there is also a relationship with illegal miners that abound in the region; when one of them carries the virus, it facilitates the transmission of the condition of rapid contagion, to be in constant motion between communities.

It is assumed that as a boomerang effect, the disease is again entering Venezuela from Brazil, After February, cases were exported to this country as a result of the exodus Venezuelans, mainly from the states of Bolívar and Delta Amacuro.

Organizations called on the central government to participate, through a broad plan of action. vaccination and medical attention, to these unprotected communities, to avoid "serious epidemics that can decimate their population, as before."

"We demand that the Ministry of Health give immediate priority to public attention actions, aimed at controlling the epidemic that puts these ancestral natives at risk of extinction," says one party.

On the other side of the border, reported the agency EFE, confirmed 59 cases of measles among the Venezuelan indigenous peoples Yanomami, a total of 67 of the ethnic group that lives between the two countries, reported the Brazilian portal G1, according to data offered by the special health district of Yanomami and Iekuana indigenous disease

The epidemic which is concentrated in 11 villages, including 5 in Venezuela, still presents 9 cases pending confirmation, including 6 Venezuelan natives, indicates the portal.It points out that the affected people in the country, in the absence of medical service, migrate to Brazil to be treated.

have no control over the disease among the Venezuelan natives, because the vaccination is very weak, they get sick. in Brazil looking for help because of the bankruptcy of the health system in Venezuela, "said Rousicler de Jesús Oliveira, coordinator of the Yanomami Special Health District and Iekuana Indigenous Health, in statements to G1.

Authorities data Brazilians in the border state of Roraima report 412 cases of measles, of which 200 have been confirmed.As of May 30, 57 of them came from Venezuela and the same number, 34 were natives.

With the information of: El Nacional

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