22/04/2013
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
In recent weeks, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has awarded the Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology (Farmaguinhos / Fiocruz) the right to provide the antimalarial artesunate + mefloquine (ASMQ) to the states-members of the Strategic Fund of the institution. The action will benefit several Latin Americans who suffer from the disease, since the number of drugs currently produced is not able to satisfy all the demand of the Americas region. Initiatives like this are extremely important to the fight against the disease, which, since 2007, is intensified annually on World Malaria (25/4), next Wednesday. On the date, Fiocruz researchers will participate in lectures on malaria in a seminar conducted by the Regional Medical Council of the State of Rio de Janeiro (CREMERJ), through its Technical Chamber of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases and Infection Control. Tania Keys and Otilia Lupi, both the Clinical Research Institute Evandro Chagas (IPEC / Fiocruz), and Claudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC / Fiocruz), will discuss prevention, treatment and diagnosis of disease.
The antimalarial artesunate + mefloquine produced at Fiocruz (Photo: Peter Ilicciev)
In 2013, Fiocruz supports and draws attention to the campaign by the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat the disease. With the slogan Invest in the future: combat malaria, WHO highlights worrying data about the disease: although the number of deaths has decreased significantly since 2000, around the world, a child dies from the disease every minute. It is estimated that in 2010 there were more than 219 million cases. Malaria is still considered endemic in 104 countries. Africa is the continent most affected, concentrating 90% of deaths. The WHO campaign also highlights the fact that a greater effort is needed in the next three years to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals when it comes to eliminating malaria in the future. Learn more about the disease here and see how you can join the cause here.
With regard to Brazil, this month the Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a bulletin on the epidemiological situation of malaria in the country. The data indicated that, in the last decade, the network of malaria diagnosis performed over 2 million tests per year. In 2011, 99.7% of cases of disease transmission have focused on the Amazon region, an area considered endemic in the country, with most cases reported in the states of Pará, Amazonas, Rondônia, Acre, Roraima and Amapá. "Because the disease of greater magnitude in the region, malaria, somehow, has contributed to the improvement of health services with the expansion of care to their patients and therefore greater attention to patients with other diseases. Since 2000, the Ministry of Health started the process of decentralization of health surveillance.
This process has been effecting annually, with the strengthening of the structure of health services and the management capacity of states and municipalities, "says the report. A major goal of the National Malaria Control has been away with the number of deaths from the disease. In the year 2011, were recorded in the Mortality Information System of the Ministry of Health (YES) 69 malaria deaths, representing a decrease of 71.8% compared to 2000 (245 deaths), and 9.2% when compared to 2010 (76 deaths).
On malaria
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted by vectors, ie, by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. If not treated properly and quickly, the human malaria can become severe and lead to death. The main symptoms are headaches and body, weakness, high fever, chills, and also abdominal pain. Can also occur, back pain, dizziness, and nausea and vomiting. Children, pregnant women and people infected for the first time are subject to greater severity.
No effective vaccine against the disease. Among the preventive measures recommended by the Ministry of Health are draining wetlands; small sewage works to eliminate vector breeding (cause of transmission); earthworks, cleaning the banks of breeding; modification of water flow, control Aquatic vegetation, enhance living and working conditions of the population and also the rational use of land. The MS also indicates the adoption of personal protection against insect bites, especially in the areas of risk. They are: the use of mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide, the use of screens on doors and windows, using repellent and avoid bathing places at peak mosquito activity - morning and late afternoon.
Learn more about the work carried out at Fiocruz to combat disease:
Published on 19/04/2013.
Source: Fiocruz
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.