State of SP reaches 221 deaths from dengue – 04/07/2024 – Health

The state of São Paulo reached the number of 221 deaths from dengue, according to data from the State Department of Health’s monitoring panel this Sunday (7). Another 495 deaths are under investigation.

The state also records 471,989 confirmed cases of the disease. In relation to those notified, there are 1,037,620.

Of the dengue cases, 5,483 presented an alarm signal and 567 progressed seriously. The warning signs are intense and continuous abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding of mucous membranes, drop in blood pressure, enlarged liver, lethargy or irritability, accumulation of fluids in body cavities (ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion), increased progressive hematocrit and postural hypotension (dizziness when standing up) and indicate worsening of the condition.

To date, the city of São Paulo has recorded the highest number of deaths (33), followed by Guarulhos (15), in the metropolitan region, Taubaté (12) and Jacareí (12).

Brazil is experiencing an unprecedented dengue epidemic. This Wednesday (3), the country reached 1,020 deaths, with another 1,531 deaths under investigation and 2,671,332 probable cases of the disease recorded in 2024. Throughout last year, the country recorded 1,079 deaths from dengue.

Even facing an epidemic, the country has a low demand for vaccination. The Ministry of Health recommends the immunization of children aged 10 to 14 years against dengue in Brazil, in accordance with recommendation criteria also from the WHO (World Health Organization).

Last Thursday (4), the city of São Paulo began vaccination against dengue. The number of doses available, however, is insufficient for the entire target audience. 185 thousand doses were made available by the Ministry of Health for vaccination in São Paulo.

The amount available today, if completely used, will only cover 0.95% of the city’s target audience.

The age restriction is precisely due to the scarce number of doses. Those already available arrived in the city after the redistribution of unused vaccines in the municipality of Mogi das Cruzes, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo. The strategy was designed by the Ministry of Health to avoid wasting the batch that expires on April 30th, after low vaccination adherence. There is still no exact forecast of when the new doses will arrive, according to the municipal secretary of Health, Luiz Carlos Zamarco, but it is expected that “in the next few days”.

City Hall claims to have sent four letters to the Ministry of Health requesting vaccines, of which three were ignored.

In a note released on Friday night (5), the municipality of São Paulo reported that 1,098 doses of the vaccine were administered. The vaccine is currently only available in the UBSs (Basic Health Units) of Itaquera, east zone, and Jaguara, west zone.

Itaquera is one of the districts in the municipality with the highest incidence of dengue. Data from the Municipal Health Department, released until the 1st, indicated 2,131.8 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants.