Government of Minas Gerais declares emergency situation in light of the alarming wave of dengue cases in the state
The state of Minas Gerais declared a state of emergency due to the growth in cases of dengue and chikungunya. The measure, made official by Governor Romeu Zema, was published in the Official State Gazette
The state recorded 21,573 cases of dengue this year - Photo Reproduction/Getty Images
The state of Minas Gerais is facing a serious public health crisis, with an alarming increase in the number of dengue and chikungunya cases. Faced with this worrying situation, governor Romeu Zema, from the Novo party, issued a decree of public health emergency situation due to the high incidence of cases in the state. The aforementioned decree was made official and published in the Official Gazette of the government of Minas Gerais this Saturday (27).
Second stipulated non-document, the implementation of all necessary administrative and assistance measures is authorized to contain the growth in cases of these diseases, with special emphasis on the acquisition of inputs and materials intended to meet the emergency situation.The decree is already in force and has a term of 180 days.
"The state is very large, has different climates, but the regions that most immediately concern us are the Central Region, Belo Horizonte, and the Vale do Aço Region, without a doubt, this is where there are more patients arriving at the care units ", said Fábio Baccheretti,state secretary of health.
According to Baccheretti, it is estimated that the peak incidence of dengue fever in Belo Horizonte will occur at the end of February. This implies a significantly reduced time frame for carrying out preparations, given the rapid growth observed in the disease curve.
Current Epidemiological Situation
The increase in the number of dengue cases has plagued several regions of Brazil and, among them, Minas Gerais, overloading local health systems. According to the monitoring panel of the State Department of Health, with data updated until Friday (26), the state recorded 21,573 cases of dengue this year, presenting a significant increase of 87.75% compared to the last bulletin released on Monday (22). One death has been confirmed, while another 34 are under investigation. With regard to chikungunya, the total number of cases reaches 5,867, with one death related to the disease being confirmed.
Recent data indicate that Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that transmits dengue fever, has found ideal conditions for proliferation, whether due to the presence of containers accumulating stagnant water in urban areas or due to climate variation favorable to the development of the vector.
State Government Decision
The governor of Minas Gerais, together with his health and emergency management team, decided to declare a state of emergency in light of the urgency to contain the spread of dengue. This measure allows for a more agile mobilization of financial and human resources, facilitating the implementation of emergency actions. With this determination, the Government of Minas Gerais will be able to streamline procedures for the acquisition of inputs and materials for the medical treatment of patients.
The decree also provides for the possibility of exemption from bidding, as established in item VIII of article 75 of Federal Law No. 14,133, of April 1, 2021. Also according to the statement, the State Department of Health (SES-MG) plans to establish the Emergency Operations Center for Arboviruses (COE Minas Arboviruses). This group will be responsible for monitoring the spread of arboviruses in cities in Minas Gerais and developing strategies to combat Aedes Aegypti, the mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and zika.
Additionally, the decree will allow collective, urgent and temporary needs to be met, resulting from the increased incidence of arbovirus cases. In this context, the authorities representing state bodies will be able to request goods and services, both from natural and legal persons, with fair compensation being guaranteed, in accordance with current legislation.
Appeal to the Population
The state government appeals to the population of Minas Gerais to actively engage in prevention measures. The collaboration of each citizen is essential to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and interrupt the dengue transmission cycle.
