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The death of a 26-year-old young man in Pará raised an alert among health authorities in the Metropolitan Region of Belém. Ronald Maia da Silva died on December 31 after experiencing complications caused by Chagas disease, allegedly contracted after consuming contaminated açaí.
Chagas disease can be transmitted orally when the insect or its feces are accidentally processed alongside fruits such as açaí/Photo: Reproduction
According to information from CNN Brasil, the main suspicion is that the food was contaminated by feces from the insect known as barber, which transmits the protozoan Trypanosoma cruziwhich causes the disease.
According to family reports, Ronald began to show his first symptoms in early December and sought medical care in two different hospitals. However, he was released without a conclusive diagnosis. As his clinical condition worsened, the young man was admitted to the Augusto Montenegro Emergency Room on December 27, where he remained for seven days before dying.
Ananindeua City Hall confirmed the case this Wednesday (7) and reported that the Municipal Health Department had started an epidemiological investigation. As a preventive measure, açaí sales points in the city were closed for inspection.
In a statement, the Pará State Department of Public Health (Sespa) stated that the Coordination to Combat Chagas Disease is monitoring the case and awaiting the conclusion of the data to officially confirm the origin of the contamination.
Chagas disease can be transmitted orally when the insect or its feces are accidentally processed alongside fruits such as açaí, especially when adequate hygiene protocols are not followed.
With information from CNN Brasil.
