The city hall of Campinas, in the interior of São Paulo, confirmed this Wednesday (20) the death of a 40-year-old man due to spotted fever. This is the 7th death recorded this year in the municipality, caused by the disease transmitted by the star tick (photo). The number is already equivalent to the total number of deaths recorded throughout last year.
In the state of São Paulo, until August 31st of this year, 16 deaths from spotted fever were recorded, according to the State Department of Health. In the same period of 2022, 22 deaths were recorded.
Campinas is located in an endemic region for the disease in the state. In addition to the deaths, two cases of spotted fever were also confirmed, in which the patients managed to recover. Across the state, until August this year, 37 cases of the disease were recorded, two more than in the same period last year.
In Brazil, according to the Ministry of Health, as of September 14, 191 cases and 51 deaths from spotted fever had been recorded. The highest incidence of the disease is concentrated in the Southeast region, with 135 cases and 44 deaths.
The patient from Campinas began showing symptoms at the end of August and died on the 2nd of this month. The cause of death was confirmed after laboratory tests. According to the city hall, the man was in areas with a possible presence of capybaras, which are hosts of the star tick, on the banks of the Capivari River and the São Vicente stream, in the south of the city.
In June this year, Campinas recorded an outbreak of spotted fever at Fazenda Santa Margarida, an event venue in the district of Joaquim Egídio. At the time, four people who participated in shows and events on the property ended up contracting the disease and dying. Among the victims were a 42-year-old man and three women — a 28-year-old teacher, a 36-year-old dentist and a 16-year-old teenager.
