#16,488
While most reports of strange and mysterious disease outbreaks end up being something less than earth shattering, it was just over 2 years ago that the newshounds at FluTrackers posted the first reports of an outbreak of an unidentified pneumonia in Wuhan, China that has since sparked the worst pandemic since the 1918 Influenza.
Yesterday Shiloh at FluTrackers (followed by others), began translating and posting multiple reports of a deadly respiratory outbreak in Cametá, in the state of Para, Brazil. Various reports suggest between 6 and 10 people have died after presenting with flu-like symptoms, pneumonia, and `hemorrhage'.
While the first two symptoms are what one might expect from seasonal influenza, COVID, or both - the hemorrhagic component is less common.
Brazil does report occasional outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers, including yellow fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever, arenavirus haemorrhagic fever and hantavirus which are all possibilities.
Brazil is currently in the midst of a seasonal H3N2 outbreak, and is reporting a recent uptick in COVID cases, although a recent hacking of their Ministry of Health's computer system has impacted recent reporting of outbreaks.
The most recent report from Cametá I can find in the Brazilian press is dated yesterday (Jan 5th), from DOL, which only mentions 7 cases.
(translated)Sespa and city hall investigate deaths from respiratory syndrome
Six cases have been registered since last December 15th. Laboratory tests will check whether victims were infected with any arboviruses.
Wednesday, 01/05/2022, 14:22 - Updated on 01/05/2022, 14:22 - Author: Denilson d'Almeida
Residents of Cametá, in northeastern Pará, are concerned about a wave of death for patients who manifested respiratory syndromes and hemorrhages in recent weeks. Teams from the Municipal and State Health Departments (Sespa) are investigating the case together with teams from the State's Central Laboratory (Lacen) and the Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC) who have already received collections of materials to be examined.
Since last December 15th, at least six people have died after experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, fever, chest pain and hematemesis (vomiting blood). All were being treated at the Regional Hospital of Cametá, which notified Sespa about the deaths. An Epidemiological Surveillance team from Cametá is also monitoring the case. In addition to the six victims, a seventh person was seen at the unit, but was discharged.
According to the State Department of Public Health, the cases undergo investigation, by Lacen-PA and IEC, for detection of respiratory viruses and other diseases such as dengue, yellow fever and leptospirosis. Sespa also claims that it is not possible to say whether or not there is a relationship with the H3N2 virus, as the cases are still under investigation.
While this outbreak will most likely turn out to be due to one of the usual viral hemorrhagic fever suspects, we'll certainly keep an eye on it.
