At least 20 Afghan refugees who are sheltering at Guarulhos International Airport were detected with scabies, a disease popularly known as scabies. The outbreak was identified on Thursday (22nd) by doctors from the City of Guarulhos and confirmed this Sunday (25th) by doctors from NGOs that work to help families who have recently arrived in Brazil.
Scabies is a contagious disease transmitted by direct contact between people or through objects, such as clothes, blankets and shared pillows, explains the infectologist at the Instituto Emílio Ribas Jamal Suleiman.
“Adverse housing and hygiene conditions substantially facilitate the appearance of this disease”, says the doctor.
Therefore, among the necessary measures to contain the outbreak, there are baths, the constant cleaning of the benches in the common areas of the airport and the change of clothes for the sick. Clothing must be washed and ironed, as high temperatures are necessary to kill parasite eggs.
The organizations Coletivo Frente Afgã, Afghanistan Refugee Recue Organization, and Projeto Abarcar — which help newly arrived refugees in the country — ask the airport to release the toilets for personal hygiene of Afghans. According to these organizations, since August 2022, the airport has allowed the use of changing rooms with showers for this population only three times.
In addition to hygiene measures, drug treatment is essential to cure the disease.
The main symptoms of scabies are intense itching and skin lesions. “In children, this is extremely draining. By scratching, you damage your skin and can get a secondary infection, and that’s where the danger lies.”, says infectologist Suleiman.
/i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_59edd422c0c84a879bd37670ae4f538a/internal_photos/bs/2023/q/Q/42DRTGQjAYUva2gGbQ1g/afegaos-guarulhos-dsc00282-fabio-tito.jpg "Scabies outbreak identified in Afghans sheltered at SP International Airport, in Guarulhos 6")
Afghans return to camping at the International Airport of SP, in Guarulhos — Photo: Fabio Tito/g1
The Municipality of Guarulhos informed by means of a note that the municipality’s Health Department provided medical care to patients at the airport itselfwith the prescription of medication for the treatment, and that the medication was provided by the municipality itself.
The note also states that “despite not being a matter of responsibility of the Municipality of Guarulhos, the municipal administration continues to monitor the situation of Afghans camped at the airport” and that “health actions are carried out at the airport on a weekly basis, such as vaccination with a view to optimization of blocking vaccine-preventable diseases and epidemiological investigation, on-site medical consultations and health guidelines”.
The report also contacted GRU Airport, responsible for managing Guarulhos International Airport, but did not receive a response until the publication of this article.
At the last count, carried out this Sunday (25), 208 Afghan refugees are sheltering at the airport. In all, there are 1,059 vacancies for immigrants and refugees in reception centers in São Paulo and Guarulhos, including equipment managed by city halls and the state government. But, at the moment, 100% of these vacancies are occupied.
read more:
Note from the Municipality of Guarulhos
“Although it is not a matter of responsibility of the Municipality of Guarulhos, the municipal administration continues to monitor the situation of the Afghans camped at the Guarulhos airport. According to the last update, carried out on the night of this Sunday (25), there are 208 people.
The Secretary of Health of Guarulhos informs that Afghans with scabies (scabies) received medical attention on the spot, with the prescription of medication for the treatment. Medicines are provided by the municipality. In addition, health actions are carried out at the airport on a weekly basis, such as vaccination with a view to optimizing the blocking of vaccine-preventable diseases and epidemiological investigation, medical consultations on site and health guidelines.
Guarulhos currently has 177 places to welcome migrants and refugees, 127 of which are managed by the municipality and another 50 by the state government. At the moment, they are all full. The Secretariat for Development and Social Assistance is in contact with the state and federal governments and also with partner institutions seeking vacancies for reception, but at the moment, there is no forecast. Meanwhile, all Afghans at the airport receive three meals a day from the City Hall, as well as water and blankets.
Mayor Guti filed a letter last Tuesday (13) with the Ministry of Ports and Airports requesting support for the demands created by the humanitarian crisis in Guarulhos. The intention is to reinforce the request for recognition of the city as a Brazilian border and for greater financial support for food for those who remain at the airport awaiting reception.”
At least 20 Afghan refugees who are sheltering at Guarulhos International Airport were detected with scabies, a disease popularly known as scabies. The outbreak was identified on Thursday (22nd) by doctors from the City of Guarulhos and confirmed this Sunday (25th) by doctors from NGOs that work to help families who have recently arrived in Brazil.
Scabies is a contagious disease transmitted by direct contact between people or through objects, such as clothes, blankets and shared pillows, explains the infectologist at the Instituto Emílio Ribas Jamal Suleiman.
“Adverse housing and hygiene conditions substantially facilitate the appearance of this disease”, says the doctor.
Therefore, among the necessary measures to contain the outbreak, there are baths, the constant cleaning of the benches in the common areas of the airport and the change of clothes for the sick. Clothing must be washed and ironed, as high temperatures are necessary to kill parasite eggs.
The organizations Coletivo Frente Afgã, Afghanistan Refugee Recue Organization, and Projeto Abarcar — which help newly arrived refugees in the country — ask the airport to release the toilets for personal hygiene of Afghans. According to these organizations, since August 2022, the airport has allowed the use of changing rooms with showers for this population only three times.
In addition to hygiene measures, drug treatment is essential to cure the disease.
The main symptoms of scabies are intense itching and skin lesions. “In children, this is extremely draining. By scratching, you damage your skin and can get a secondary infection, and that’s where the danger lies.”, says infectologist Suleiman.
Afghans return to camping at the International Airport of SP, in Guarulhos — Photo: Fabio Tito/g1
The Municipality of Guarulhos informed by means of a note that the municipality’s Health Department provided medical care to patients at the airport itselfwith the prescription of medication for the treatment, and that the medication was provided by the municipality itself.
The note also states that “despite not being a matter of responsibility of the Municipality of Guarulhos, the municipal administration continues to monitor the situation of Afghans camped at the airport” and that “health actions are carried out at the airport on a weekly basis, such as vaccination with a view to optimization of blocking vaccine-preventable diseases and epidemiological investigation, on-site medical consultations and health guidelines”.
The report also contacted GRU Airport, responsible for managing Guarulhos International Airport, but did not receive a response until the publication of this article.
At the last count, carried out this Sunday (25), 208 Afghan refugees are sheltering at the airport. In all, there are 1,059 vacancies for immigrants and refugees in reception centers in São Paulo and Guarulhos, including equipment managed by city halls and the state government. But, at the moment, 100% of these vacancies are occupied.
read more:
Note from the Municipality of Guarulhos
“Although it is not a matter of responsibility of the Municipality of Guarulhos, the municipal administration continues to monitor the situation of the Afghans camped at the Guarulhos airport. According to the last update, carried out on the night of this Sunday (25), there are 208 people.
The Secretary of Health of Guarulhos informs that Afghans with scabies (scabies) received medical attention on the spot, with the prescription of medication for the treatment. Medicines are provided by the municipality. In addition, health actions are carried out at the airport on a weekly basis, such as vaccination with a view to optimizing the blocking of vaccine-preventable diseases and epidemiological investigation, medical consultations on site and health guidelines.
Guarulhos currently has 177 places to welcome migrants and refugees, 127 of which are managed by the municipality and another 50 by the state government. At the moment, they are all full. The Secretariat for Development and Social Assistance is in contact with the state and federal governments and also with partner institutions seeking vacancies for reception, but at the moment, there is no forecast. Meanwhile, all Afghans at the airport receive three meals a day from the City Hall, as well as water and blankets.
Mayor Guti filed a letter last Tuesday (13) with the Ministry of Ports and Airports requesting support for the demands created by the humanitarian crisis in Guarulhos. The intention is to reinforce the request for recognition of the city as a Brazilian border and for greater financial support for food for those who remain at the airport awaiting reception.”
