City Hall monitors gastroenteritis outbreak in Rio – 12/17/2023 – Health

The Municipal Health Secretary is monitoring an outbreak of gastroenteritis in the neighborhoods of Copacabana and Botafogo, in the south zone of Rio de Janeiro. In total, 46 cases were registered in recent weeks, according to the ministry’s secretary, Daniel Soranz.

Notifications of individual cases are not mandatory, only when they are characterized as an outbreak. In Copacabana alone, two outbreaks were recorded, totaling 34 people with gastroenteritis.

According to Soranz, the cases are unrelated. The secretariat is investigating the possible causes and collected samples from patients. Along with health surveillance, the ministry has also carried out inspections of restaurants and street vendors in the region.

The secretary points out heat and the intake of compromised foods and drinks as possible causes of gastroenteritis.

“As different pathogens were detected, we attribute [os casos] heat, poor food preservation and the consumption of water that has not been filtered properly”, he told Sheet.

Soranz also said that, in hot periods like now, outbreaks of diarrhea due to the heat are common.

“Intense heat, which in itself can make digestion difficult and cause other effects on people, also promotes the proliferation of bacteria much faster. Food spoils more,” he said.

The secretary said that the Health department carried out inspections of the city’s water system, but did not find anything that could have caused the gastroenteritis outbreaks. Soranz stated, however, that one of the possible causes is drinks and food sold in places without health surveillance records.

“We found a special concern outside of registered locations. One of the focus areas is water sold on the street, which may have dubious origins. One guideline is to avoid buying water from informal businesses.”

According to Soranz, occasional episodes of diarrhea and gastroenteritis can be treated at home, but people should seek care if the condition lasts for more than 5 days or if it is accompanied by fever and blood or pus in the stool.

Another recommendation from the secretary is to increase fluid intake during hot days and consume more fruits, vegetables and light foods. He also recommends avoiding preparing food too far in advance before eating it so that it doesn’t spoil.