Campinas investigates 5th case of spotted fever and alerts participants of farm events

Visitors from other cities and states who were at two events held at Fazenda Santa Margarida, in Campinas (SP), are being warned to pay attention to possible signs of infection by Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Three people who participated in Feijoada do Rosa, on May 27, died after contracting the disease transmitted by the star tick. A fourth death is investigated. Now, a new suspicious case has emerged involving a woman who was at another event, a concert by singer Seu Jorge held on June 3.

A 38-year-old woman who went to that show had symptoms of the disease and is hospitalized in a private hospital in Campinas, where she lives. According to Health Surveillance, she started showing symptoms on the 10th and is still awaiting the result of the laboratory test.

According to the City Hall, the Center for Strategic Information on Health Surveillance (Cievs) network issued an alert to the national and state networks in order to inform people from other cities who were at the two events about the emergence of cases. Fazenda Santa Margarida suspended upcoming events and closed its doors for a period of 30 days.

“The active search is one of the strategies that Health Surveillance can use”, declared infectologist Rodrigo Angerami, in a press conference convened by the city hall. “These events bring together people not only from the municipality of Campinas, but also from the surrounding area and even from other states”

The infectologist pointed out that the chance of cure for those who contract Rocky Mountain spotted fever is greater at the onset of symptoms, and the disease can manifest itself in up to two weeks.

“Suspicion and treatment must be early”, he pointed out. Despite this, he admitted that identifying cases is not simple. “It is a disease in which, in the initial phase, the symptoms are common to a number of diseases, and as the incidence is very low, it ends up being lost to diseases that are more frequent.”

Director of the Health Surveillance Department (Devisa), Andrea Von Zuben warns of the high lethality rate of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

“Apart from these cases [de agora], we had another two at the beginning of the year, and both evolved to death”, declared Andrea. According to her, this is the third time that the State of São Paulo has had an outbreak of spotted fever. The previous ones were in the city of Campinas and Americana.

In a note, Fazenda Santa Margarida informed that it is working on an action plan that it should present to the competent bodies later this week. He also said that, in view of the events and in order to ensure the well-being of visitors, employees and the community, the facilities will remain closed for the next 30 days.

Still this Wednesday, the company will present to the city hall a list of events scheduled for the next six months.

Municipalities take actions against ticks

The city hall also began mapping the occurrence of ticks in 12 areas of the municipality of Campinas, including Lagoa do Taquaral, Lago do Café, Parque das Águas, Parque Botânico and the Joaquim Egídio district, where Fazenda Santa Margarida is located. Municipal agents also started distributing leaflets about the disease in these areas.

After the deaths in Campinas, other cities reinforced prevention actions against the disease. In Ribeirão Preto, Olhos D’Água Park was closed due to tick infestation, as a group of capybaras inhabit the place. The situation is being monitored by the Municipal Secretary of Health. The areas of infestation were identified with plaques. The city registered four suspected cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but all were negative.

Neighboring Campinas, the city of Valinhos determined the mapping for tick detection in areas where cases were registered prior to the replacement of warning signs in green areas considered at risk. Endemic disease combat agents are visiting nearby houses to deliver folders.

At the traditional Festa Julina de Valinhos there will be an exclusive stand on Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The city hall also scheduled a training cycle for physicians in basic health networks and emergency care units for early diagnosis of the disease. The cycle runs from the 21st to the 29th of this month. The city had no case this year.

The municipality of Limeira had one death from Rocky Mountain spotted fever this year before the cases in Campinas, which is why it had already been reinforcing actions to control the tick. There are five other cases under investigation – the patients are undergoing treatment or have already recovered.

In places positive for the tick, signs were placed that inform about the disease and give the reference of the health unit that should be sought in case of infection. In places with a high density of ticks, the city government mows and applies ticks. Educational campaigns are being carried out in schools and institutions.

In Americana, the city hall conducts research on the star tick at strategic points, such as the entire edge of the Salto Grande Reservoir, considered risk areas for transmission. The municipality develops a tick surveillance program and maintains warning signs for residents in these areas, warning of the presence of the star tick in these places. A campaign on Rocky Mountain spotted fever is currently being carried out, as it is the period with the highest incidence of the disease.

The city hall of Indaiatuba, which borders Campinas, is monitoring risk areas after registering a positive case of spotted fever this year. Another six suspected cases are under investigation. There were no deaths from the disease.

On Tuesday (13), the municipality released an alert about the disease on its official social network, asking the population to seek medical attention in case of suspicious symptoms. The public areas at risk with the presence of ticks were marked with signs.