The death of three children with suspected Streptococcus pyogenes infection prompted cities in Minas Gerais to adopt emergency measures to prevent the spread of the bacteria.
How many children died?
The deaths of three children were reported.
In which city were the cases recorded?
The cases were registered by the São João del Rei Health Department, located 183 kilometers from Belo Horizonte.
When did the cases happen?
The cases occurred between September 24th and October 23rd.
What is stated on death certificates?
The death certificate for the first death, a 10-year-old child, shows infection with the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenesalthough laboratory confirmation has not yet occurred.
As for the other two deaths, a three-year-old child and a nine-year-old child, the Department of Health is awaiting the issuance of reports.
Did more children show symptoms?
Four other children from the same city showed similar symptoms and are being monitored.
What is bacteria?
The bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes is known as group A streptococcus and can cause various infections in humans, including pharyngitis, tonsillitis, skin infections and serious complications such as rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis, if not treated properly.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
In cases of symptoms such as fever and sore throat, the advice is to seek a Basic Health Unit for correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Is it an outbreak of the disease?
According to the State Department of Health of Minas Gerais (SES-MG), there are no criteria that prove an outbreak or risk to the health of the population of São João del Rei, as well as no epidemiological evidence that justifies the change in the routine of the population’s activities.
How to carry out prevention and control?
The recommendations of the State Department of Health if symptoms appear are:
- Hand hygiene and use of 70% alcohol as preventive measures.
- Provision of individual utensils for children and guidance not to share with colleagues.
- Consult all symptomatic cases, diagnose, isolate and treat them appropriately.
- Inform and provide guidance on the risk of invasive disease to household contacts of scarlet fever cases, emphasizing hand hygiene and adequate ventilation.
- Report to the surveillance system all unusual and unexpected forms of infection by the agent, including invasive forms and outbreaks.
Which cities suspended classes?
In addition to São João del Rei, Ritápolis, Santa Cruz de Minas, Tiradentes and Conceição da Barra de Minas suspended classes to carry out decontamination in municipal schools following the cases.
*Published by Douglas Porto, with information from Daniela Mallmann, Mel Galdino, Giovanna Bronze and Maria Clara Alcântara (CNN)
