03/03/2024 – 18:00
Natal City Hall declared a health emergency due to the increase in the number of dengue cases. According to the municipality, the data also indicates a growth trend for the third consecutive week and the current situation already constitutes an epidemic.
Since the beginning of 2024, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte has recorded a total of 692 occurrences of arboviruses transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Of these, 655 are cases of dengue. The other records are of chikungunya fever and, to a lesser extent, of zika. Among the neighborhoods with the highest concentration of cases are Pajuçara, Lagoa Azul, Redinha, Nossa Senhora da Presentação and Igapó.
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The decree establishing the public health emergency appears in the municipality's Official Gazette this Saturday (2) and is valid for 90 days. During this period, the Municipal Health Department (SMS) will have greater flexibility to adopt measures and direct resources with the aim of meeting public health demands.
According to the city hall, a crisis office was installed so that municipal bodies can act in an integrated manner. From them, goals, priorities and ways to combat the epidemic are being established.
Some measures have already been defined. Basic Health Units will receive kits containing repellents to be distributed to pregnant women during prenatal consultations. They will also be prepared to provide oral rehydration and some have been highlighted as references for intravenous hydration. In cases of urgency, the patient must seek emergency health units.
According to data released by the secretariat, this year alone, 35,000 mosquito outbreaks have been identified in deposits that could be avoided, such as plastic bottles and containers. In total, around 30 thousand homes have received visits from health agents this year so far. Agents check whether some essential measures are being adopted by residents, such as keeping water tanks covered, refrigerator and air conditioning trays without water, unused toilets closed and swimming pools treated.
Among other departments and bodies that make up the crisis cabinet are the Municipal Secretariat for the Environment and Urbanism (Semurb), which monitors and notifies property owners, and the Municipal Secretariat for Works and Infrastructure (Seinfra), which will intensify the cleaning of lagoons and drains. The Natal Urban Services Company (Urbana) will reinforce cleaning and solid waste collection services that could cause stagnant water to accumulate in public places.
Vaccination
Natal received more than 18,800 doses of the dengue vaccine from the Ministry of Health. According to national guidelines, immunization began with children and adolescents aged between 10 and 14 years. The municipality warns, however, that demand has been low, only 4,800 doses were applied in the first 15 days. One measure that is being planned is vaccination in municipal schools.
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