São Paulo – The Epidemiological Surveillance (VE) of Jundiaí, in the interior of SP, informed this Thursday (15/6) that the city is investigating seven suspected cases of spotted fever. According to the agency, there are no confirmed cases or patients hospitalized with suspicion of the disease this Thursday (6/15).
Two of the patients under investigation were at Fazenda Santa Margarida, in Campinas, an area of probable infection. The others reported having frequented green areas in the Jundiaí region and in other cities.
The examination for the confirmation of these cases depends on the analysis of two blood samples, with an interval of 14 days between them.
Four people who were at Feijoada do Rosa, at Fazenda Margarida, on May 27, died of spotted fever. Among them, the pilot and businessman Douglas Costa, 42 years old. He is a resident of Jundiaí.
Still in the region of Jundiaí, another suspected case is being investigated in Itupeva. A resident sought medical attention after experiencing headaches and body aches. She was not in Campinas.
Service
The symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever are fever and pain in the body, headache or red spots on the body. If you have symptoms, seek medical attention immediately, stating that you have been in green areas, regardless of having identified a tick or bite on your body.
The incubation period is from two to 14 days. Therefore, it is important to consider exposures that occurred in the last 15 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
People with suspicion should seek municipal health services:
– Emergency Room (PAs) at Ponte São João (Santo Antônio Street, 191) and Retiro (Maria Lúcia de Almeida Street, 100), which are open from 7 am to 7 pm (gates close at 6 pm), Hortolândia PA (Campinas Street, 58, Vila Hortolândia), PA Central (Rua João Lopes, 78, Praça Dom Pedro II), in addition to the UPA Vetor Oeste (Avenida Presbítero Manoel Antônio Dias Filho, 155), with 24-hour service.
The Municipality of Jundiaí points out that it carries out, on a permanent basis, guidance and clarification work on Rocky Mountain spotted fever, since the bacteria that causes the disease is endemic in the state of São Paulo.
In the winter and dry season, when there is a greater risk of parasitism, due to the greater presence of immature forms of these arthropods, handling in public areas where there is circulation of tick-host animals (capybaras, cattle and horses) is intensified.
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Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, which is transmitted by some species of ticks.
The infection has a high lethality rate, but it is curable. Treatment should be started early with specific antibiotics.
Symptoms
Severe headache;
Nausea and vomiting;
Diarrhea and abdominal pain;
constant muscle pain;
Swelling and redness on the palms and soles of the feet;
Gangrene in the fingers and ears;
Paralysis of the limbs that starts in the legs and goes up to the lungs causing respiratory arrest.
In the evolution of the disease, the appearance of red spots on the wrists and ankles is also common, which do not itch, but can increase towards the palms of the hands, arms or soles of the feet.
How is the transmission?
The transmission of the disease occurs in wild environments, where the Amblyomma cajennense tick, popularly known as the star tick, exists. For transmission to occur, the tick must remain attached to the skin for a period of about 4 hours.
How to protect yourself:
When hiking and outdoor leisure activities, some precautions must be taken to avoid Rocky Mountain spotted fever:
Avoid walking, sitting and lying on lawns and in areas of known tick infestation;
In wild areas, perform body checks for ticks at three-hour intervals to decrease the risk of contracting ticks.
illness;
If ticks are found on the body, do not crush the tick with your fingernails, as it can release bacteria and infect body parts with lesions;
If you find the parasite, it must be removed lightly with twists and with the help of tweezers, avoiding contact with the nails. The faster they are removed, the less chance of infection;
Use physical barriers, such as long pants, with the bottom inside the boots or thick socks;
Use of light clothes to facilitate the visualization and removal of ticks.
