Disease

Hepatitis E – Chad

From 1 September 2016 until 13 January 2017, a total of 693 cases including 11 deaths of acute jaundice syndrome (AJS) have been reported from Am Timan, Chad.

Hepatitis in the Americas

The first report of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on viral hepatitis reveals the enormous scale of this silent epidemic in the Americas, and advocates an organized response by the countries of the region to prevent, detect and treat those who need it.

The new report estimates that about 2.8 million people have chronic hepatitis B virus infection and about 7.2 million have hepatitis C virus. Of these three of every four persons do not know they have the infection, which can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and even death if not treated on time.

Hepatitis B and C are estimated to cause about 125,000 deaths each year, more deaths than tuberculosis and HIV infection combined. The report shows that of the 7.2 million people living with chronic hepatitis C in the region, only 4 %, or 300,000, receive treatment, In addition, an estimated 65,000 people are infected every year with hepatitis C. Although new treatments available have the potential to cure about 90% of people infected with hepatitis C, and reduce the risk of death due to liver cancer or cirrhosis, they are still not accessible to all because of their high cost, and only 19 countries fund them, the report said.

Brazil - Yellow Fever - Update

In a follow-up on the yellow fever outbreak in Brazil, through Monday, Jan. 23, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has recorded 421 suspected cases of yellow fever and 87 deaths in four states and the Federal District.

Of the total, 358 remain under investigation, 62 were confirmed and one discarded. Of the 87 deaths reported, 34 were confirmed and 53 remain under investigation.

The cases were registered in Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia, São Paulo and the Federal District.