Rio de Janeiro confirms its first two cases of measles in 18 years

Rio de Janeiro registered the first two cases of measles in 18 years, informed the Health Department of this state on Monday after this virus was found in other parts of Brazil.

that patients are students at the Faculty of Law of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Last week, the Ministry of Health confirmed a measles epidemic in the states of Amazonas and Roraima, in the north of the country. eradicated since 2016.

Up to June 20, 463 cases (200 in Roraima and 263 in Amazonas) have been confirmed and 1,545 are under investigation, said the ministry in a bulletin.

The only two measles deaths recorded so far this year were recorded in Roraima, a state bordering Venezuela and the main beneficiary of the increasing flow of migrants from that country. According to laboratory studies, the strain of the virus found in Brazil is the same in circulation in Venezuela, a country that is suffering from a severe crisis with a high food shortage, basic products and medications.

On the other hand, according to data from the Ministry of Health, until June 11, two cases of measles were confirmed among the Yanomami Brazilian in the same border region and 24 other cases in the Indians Venezuelans. There are still 61 cases under investigation.

The Human Rights Organization Survival International has issued an alert: "These communities are the most vulnerable, emergency medical help is the only thing separating them from the devastation, "said director Stephen Corry. It is a contagious disease, respiratory transmission, caused by a virus. Red spots on the skin, fever, cough and conjunctivitis are some of the symptoms.

Vaccination in Brazil is permanent and not stationary, but the government has intensified its operations because of recent low immunization rates and reoccurrence of the disease.