108% increase in cases of flu syndromes in Amapá makes the Ministry of Health send oxygen cylinders

An outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory and Gripal Syndromes, SARS, caused the state of Amapá to declare a state of emergency on the last May 13th, as the Intensive Care Units, ICUs, pediatrics of the SUS reached maximum capacity and 4 deaths so far have been registered. Between January and May there was a 108% increase in hospitalizations of children in the state.

Most of those hospitalized are children between 7 months and 4 years old.

A meeting held on the 16th with the Ministry of Health and with the presence of 16 municipal mayors of the state, defined some emergency measures, such as the increase in the number of ICUs, Intensification of vaccination in children and adults, special decrees with health measures , increase in the medical team’s shift schedules and the reinforcement of oxygen in public hospital units.

With the help of the Brazilian navy, a shipment of 12,000 tons of oxygen should arrive by Tuesday (23), coming from the neighboring state of Pará. The inputs will arrive at the port of Santana, a city close to 17 km from the capital Macapá.

In all, 30 beds will be opened, 10 in the ICU and 20 in the ward, to serve mainly the children who are being most affected by the recent flu outbreak.

The government of Amapá declared that it will carry out an intensive vaccination campaign, mainly for children, as only 16% of the child population received immunizers. In addition, the Ministry of Health sent teams of epidemiologists to reinforce emergencies and consequently investigate cases. The Secretary of Health, Silvana Vedovelli said that “The oxygen supply inside our hospitals is normal. This Navy ship that is arriving with oxygen tanks is necessary for the new HU beds to start working. Normally it would take more than 45 days to arrive, but Pará had material available for forwarding. Currently, we are very stable with our stock, but we are already prepared for any change in this demand.”

The emergency was caused by the virus known as Respiratory Syncytial (RSV), and it causes bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the lungs. Covid-19 and Influenza A and B viruses were also detected on a smaller scale. The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation in Amapá and also in neighboring states in order to try to prevent the spread of diseases in nearby regions.

Featured photo: Oxygen being sent by the Brazilian navy to the state of Amapá. Playback/Twitter.