Rio de Janeiro launched an alert last week (6) about the increase in cases of meningococcal meningitis in the state through the State Department of Health (SES). According to the note, it was recorded 28 cases of disease – 55.5% increase over the same period in 2021 – with 7 deaths.
Most worrying is the low vaccination coverage in Brazil. According to SES, the rate of immunization with meningococcal type C vaccine, which was 91.32% in 2017, it fell to 36.38% by September 22 this year.
talk to G1pediatrician Isabella Ballalai warned: “Meningococcal meningitis kills one in five children. And one in five survivors will have serious sequelae such as amputation. That’s why it is a very serious disease“.
Available vaccines
The National Immunization Program offers several types of vaccines to protect against different types of meningitis. See below:
- Meningococcal C vaccineThe serotype is most common in Brazil, administered in two doses: at 3 and 5 months of age, with a booster at 12 years of age.
- penta vaccine Protective against meningitis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and hepatitis B – should be given to children at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.
- Already meningococcal ACWY vaccine It is planned for children and adolescents aged 11-14 years. This is important because people in this age group are primarily responsible for the transmission of meningitis in the country.
Source: Tec Mundo
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
