The Ministry of Health commented on the suspected case of Ebola registered this Saturday (30). The patient in question is hospitalized and isolated at the Emílio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases, in São Paulo.
In a note sent to CNN Brazilthe agency stated that the situation and that the measures provided for in the Plan were adopted for cases of possible viral infection.
According to the Ministry of Health, the 37-year-old patient underwent care at an Emergency Care Unit (UPA) — where his case was first investigated as malaria — before being transferred to Emílio Ribas.
“Upon arriving at the reference unit, he was in a serious condition, with diarrhea, disorientation and rapid clinical worsening, requiring intubation”, says the document.
He was recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which corroborated suspicions of Ebola.
There is still no confirmation of laboratory tests regarding the infection and his case will continue to be analyzed at the Emílio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases.
The São Paulo State Department of Health (SES-SP) is investigating the case of suspected Ebola virus disease, registered by the Disease Control Coordination (CCD) and the Epidemiological Surveillance Center (CVE-SP).
“The planned measures were adopted based on the identification of clinical and epidemiological criteria. The procedure includes isolation, immediate notification, laboratory investigation and monitoring in accordance with current protocols”, stated Regiane de Paula, Health coordinator of the SES-SP Disease Control Coordination.
Read the note in full
The Ministry of Health informs that it was notified, this Saturday (30/5), of a suspected case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in a 37-year-old patient, admitted to the Emílio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases, a reference for infectious diseases in the state of São Paulo.
The patient was recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo and presented symptoms compatible with the definition of a suspected case for viral hemorrhagic fevers. Faced with this scenario, the measures provided for in the National Contingency Plan were immediately adopted, including isolation of the patient and the beginning of the epidemiological and laboratory investigation.
Before being transferred to the Emílio Ribas Institute, the patient was treated at an Emergency Care Unit (UPA), where he presented a high fever and inconclusive tests for malaria. Upon arriving at the reference unit, he was in a serious condition, with diarrhea, disorientation and rapid clinical worsening, requiring intubation.
The investigation is conducted jointly by health surveillance teams from the federal, state and municipal governments. To date, it has not been possible to confirm the patient’s province of origin in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is important information for assessing epidemiological risk.
There is no laboratory confirmation for Ebola virus disease. The suspicion is related to the clinical picture presented and the recent history of international travel. The exams are still under analysis.
The Ministry of Health maintains continuous monitoring of the international epidemiological scenario and reinforces guidance to health services across the country for early identification and adequate management of suspected cases, as provided for in the National Contingency Plan for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers.
