Adolfo Lutz confirms: teenager who participated in a party in Campinas died of spotted fever
In the last few days,there were four confirmed deaths from Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Since the beginning of this year, there have been eight deaths related to this disease in the state of São Paulo.
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On Thursday morning, the Adolphus Lutz Institute announced the death of Erissa Santon, a 16-year-old teenager, due to Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Unfortunately, she became the fourth victim of this disease after the party held at Fazenda Santa Margarida, located in the district of Joaquim Egídio. It is noteworthy that the young woman was accompanying her father, who worked as a firefighter, and did not actively participate in the event itself.
Victims
Erissa attended the event at Santa Margarida Farm to support his father, a fireman who worked there. Sadly, she became the fourth confirmed victim of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in recent days. The other people who lost their lives to this disease were teacher Evelyn Santos, 28 years old; dentist Mariana Giordano, 36 years old; and businessman and pilot Douglas Costa, 42 years old, who was Mariana's boyfriend.
Since the beginning of this year, the state of São Paulo has recorded eight deaths related to Rocky Mountain spotted fever. According to the State Department of Health, São Paulo had 17 cases in 2023. In addition to the four deaths, there are two cases under investigation, according to the city of Campinas, of people who are still hospitalized in hospitals in the city.
Event
The disease was contracted during feijoada do rosa, a traditional event in Campinas that brought together 3,500 people. The party has a trajectory of 22 years, the last ten being held at Fazenda Santa Margarida. This event is known for bringing together talented electronic music DJs. For this year's edition, the ticket kit was made available at high prices and included not only entry to the event, which guaranteed access to food and drink, but also a personalized abadá with the party's brand. During the pre-sale, tickets were sold for R$ 750.
The farm
Campinas informed that there is an outbreak of the disease at Santa Margarida Farm, resulting in the temporary suspension of events at the venue. For activities to be resumed, those responsible must present an environmental and communication contingency plan. It is worth mentioning that the district of Joaquim Egidio is considered a risk area for Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the city.
According to the mapping carried out by the city hall, at least 12 areas or regions with this risk were identified. Fazenda Santa Margarida is located in an environmental protection region and is known for hosting large "sunset" concerts of various musical genres. The history of attractions includes artists such as Jorge and Mateus, Zé Neto and Cristiano, Henrique and Juliano, Daniel, Alexandre Pires, Ivete Sangalo and Seu Jorge. In addition, the space has hosted wedding ceremonies.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever It is a potentially fatal infectious disease, often caused and transmitted by the star tick or micuim of the species Amblyomma cajennense. It is important to emphasize that this disease is not transmitted directly from person to person or by contact with infected animals. Common symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle aches. A rash may develop at the site of the tick bite, usually characterized by dark or crusted skin.
For the specific diagnosis of Spotted Fever, the recommended laboratory tests are the Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction (IFAT), which identifies the presence of antibodies against the bacteria through blood samples. Fortunately, Rocky Mountain spotted fever responds well to immediate treatment with antibiotics, however, when not treated early on, the condition progresses to more severe cases in which the bacteria damage blood vessel cells. This can result in complications such as brain inflammation, paralysis, kidney failure, seizures, coma and multiple organ failure.
Streaming
In Brazil, ticks of the genusAmblyomma, mainly the one known as the star tick, are the main vectors and reservoirs. However, according to the Ministry of Health, any species of tick can potentially be a reservoir of rickettsia, which are the causative agents of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In addition, horses, rodents such as the capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) and marsupials such as the opossum (Didelphis sp), play an important role in the spotted fever transmission cycle.
