Between January and September 2022, the number of cases of meningococcal meningitis in the state of Rio de Janeiro increased by 55.5% when compared to the same period in 2021.
In 2022, until the month of September, there were 28 cases of the disease, with seven deaths. In the same period last year, there were 18, according to data from the State Department of Health.
Infection with this type of meningitis can affect various organs of the human body. In all, there were 997 patients diagnosed with meningitis until September 22, considering all variations of the disease.
In the entire year of 2021, 959 cases of meningitis were recorded, 30 of which were meningococcal. Eight people died from meningococcal meningitis last year.
The main factor for the increase in meningitis is the lack of adherence to vaccination of children, according to the state health department.
Current vaccination coverage against the disease in Rio de Janeiro is the lowest in the last five years. This year, about 36.3% of children under one year old received the vaccine against meningitis, while 34.6% received protection with the Penta vaccine, which also protects against the disease.
In 2017, the routine vaccination coverage rate against meningitis in Rio de Janeiro was 91.32%; in, 2018, in 87.86%; in 2019, it reduced to 76.81%; in 2020, it dropped to 57.12%; and in 2021, it was 54.49%. Penta’s vaccination coverage was 93.49% in 2017; 88.16%, in 2018; 55.15%, in 2019; 55.77%, in 2020; and 54.27% in 2021.
The department warns that, although there is no outbreak of the disease in the state, it is important that parents and guardians take children and adolescents to be vaccinated. All immunizations intended for children and adolescents are available at health posts.
For vaccines administered to children over 1 year of age and adolescents, the Ministry of Health calculates the doses applied. The Meningococcal ACWY vaccine is a recommended application for children and adolescents aged 11 to 14 years.
In 2021, the National Immunization Program Information System (PNI) recorded 95,009 doses applied in the state of Rio de Janeiro. In 2022, until September, 36,253 doses were applied.
According to a survey carried out by CNN , at least eight states have reported an increase in meningitis cases. They are: Rio de Janeiro, ParaÃba, Minas Gerais, EspÃrito Santo, Maranhão, Pará, Pernambuco and Bahia.
Last week, two young men contracted meningococcal meningitis in the city of São Paulo: a 20-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man who died. In the capital of São Paulo alone, there were ten deaths from meningitis this year.
Source: CNN Brasil
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