Virus outbreak on the coast of São Paulo generates concern among residents and tourists

The number of cases in Baixada Santista registered a significant increase in December 2024, compared to the previous month, generating concern among both tourists and local residents. In response to this alarming situation, the government of São Paulo issued specific guidelines to municipalities in the region on measures to prevent the disease. The situation is worrying, with reports of viruses in cities such as and . Furthermore, emergency care units are full, and there are reports of lack of medicines in pharmacies. To deal with the growing demand, some city halls decided to extend the opening hours of health units.

In a joint action, the state government, the Department of Health and the Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo () are monitoring water quality in the region. The company, responsible for water supply, guaranteed that there were no changes in the quality of the water supplied. The Department of Health recommended that municipalities carry out epidemiological investigations and collect feces in the first days of symptoms to identify the pathogen causing the virus. Furthermore, the population was advised to take extra care with hygiene and check the quality of the water before entering the sea, using the CETESB website or app.

Alessandra Luquezi, director of the division of waterborne and foodborne diseases at the State Department of Health, highlighted that the increase in diarrheal diseases is common during the summer, due to the greater concentration of people and changes in eating and hygiene habits. She emphasized the importance of hand hygiene and paying attention to the quality of water and food consumed. Epidemiological surveillance is collecting water and feces samples to determine the source of contamination. The recommendation is to boil the water for three minutes or use sodium hypochlorite for disinfection.

*With information from Beatriz Manfredini