O Brasil piscou. O sarampo voltou
O Brasil levou décadas para eliminar o sarampo, e em 2016 recebeu pela primeira vez a certificação internacional de país livre da doença. Dez anos depois, a reintrodução do vírus e a queda da cobertura vacinal obrigam São Paulo a montar uma campanha de vacinação em massa para milhões de pessoas. A campanha, que começou […] The post O Brasil piscou. O sarampo voltou appeared first on Brazil…
Brazil wiped out smallpox after decades of effort, achieving international certification as a disease-free country in 2016. However, in 2024 the disease has resurfaced, prompting São Paulo to launch a mass vaccination campaign targeting over 10 million people aged 6 months to 59 years. The outbreak follows the confirmation of 23 new cases and reflects a sharp decline in vaccination coverage, which fell to 60% over a two to three year period.
The sars-cov-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, is far more contagious, spreading to about 15 people per infected individual, while sars-cov-1, the virus behind the 2003 outbreak, spreads to 15 people. The measles vaccine, which aims to protect against this highly infectious disease, is particularly effective when a significant proportion of the population is immunized.
However, the recent drop in vaccination rates has left many adults unprotected, making them vulnerable to severe complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis. The campaign comes at a time when other countries in the Americas are experiencing measles outbreaks, with Guatemala reporting over 30,000 cases and 26 deaths, Mexico recording around 12,000 cases and 17 deaths, and the United States facing its largest outbreak in 35 years with 2,465 confirmed cases.
Brazil regained its disease-free status in 2022 but lost it again in 2024. The challenge lies not only in reviving vaccination rates but also in maintaining ongoing vigilance to protect against diseases that have become rare due to successful vaccination programs.
Written by urgent.news from Brazil Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
