State of Rio de Janeiro has 14 confirmed cases of measles

The State Department of Health of Rio de Janeiro reported that 14 people had the diagnosis of measles confirmed in Rio de Janeiro. Eleven patients come from Rio de Janeiro, two from Duque de Caxias and one from Niterói. Samples were analyzed by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), a reference laboratory of the Ministry of Health.

According to the Department of Health, Rio has not yet a state of circulation of the virus throughout the state. According to Dr. Alexander Chieppe, of the Subsecretaria of Vigilância em Saúde, 12 cases are related to the first infection, a student of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

"C & # 39; is a situation that ignites the warning signal "Obviously, there is a problem, because it is the first time, after 18 years, that there is a diagnosis of case of contracted measles here in Rio de Janeiro. "However, despite the fact that the number seems important, it remains very tied"

According to Chieppe, there are other suspicious cases, but as the symptoms are similar to other diseases, it is necessary to wait for confirmation. Measles protection is one of three viral and tetraviral vaccines available in the Unified Health System (UAS), according to the Ministry of Health's immunization schedule for children between 12 and 15 months of age. Rio de Janeiro has 95% coverage for children up to the age of 1 year, although, according to the Secretariat, there are pockets with vaccine deficits. Chieppe states that there is no reason to go to the health posts.

Only children under one year old and adults under 49 who have not been vaccinated should be vaccinated. Those who took both doses of the vaccine do not need to take a new one. Although measles can cause serious complications, according to the State Department of Health, in the 14 confirmed cases, the symptoms were mild and the patients were not in a serious condition.

Edition: Juliana Andrade