Rio investigates suspected Ômicron variant in the capital
The Superintendence of Health Surveillance of the Municipal Health Department of Rio de Janeiro (SMS) conducts an epidemiological investigation and monitors the case of a 29-year-old woman who returned from a trip to South Africa on the 21st. Despite being asymptomatic, the woman he underwent a routine exam and had a positive result for covid-19, informed the secretariat.
According to the SMS, the samples collected from the patient were sent for examination of genetic sequencing, to identify the virus variant and thus find out if it is Ômicron, whose existence was revealed in the African country.
"The patient's contacts are also being monitored, as well as her traveling companion, with no other positive cases so far," the secretariat added in a note.
Fiocruz
The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) confirmed that it received the sample sent by the Municipal Health Department. In order to follow the protocol adopted for verifying the results, the foundation will process the material using the RT-PCR technique to detect the SARS-CoV virus -two.
According to Fiocruz, if so, and depending on the viral load of the sample, the genetic sequencing technique can be performed to define its lineage and possible variation. "According to the protocol of the national reference service on respiratory viruses, the result of the analysis will be sent directly to the local and state Health Departments, within a period of up to five days."
In the city of Rio de Janeiro, health units continue with a large movement of patients who come all the time complaining of symptoms similar to those of Influenza A and covid-19. This causes a backlog of people waiting for covid-19 tests to check for contamination.
In addition, at the vaccination posts there is also a great demand for immunizing agents against covid-19 and the flu. After interrupting the flu vaccination due to lack of immunizing agents, SMS resumed applications this Wednesday (1st).
São Paulo
In São Paulo, the third case of a patient with the Ômicron variant in Brazil was confirmed today. The sample was genetically sequenced by the Adolfo Lutz Institute. The patient is a 29-year-old man who arrived at Guarulhos Airport from Ethiopia. Although he had no symptoms, he tested for covid-19 on Saturday (27), and the result was positive. The man had already received two doses of Pfizer's immunizer.
In addition to this case, a 41-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman who arrived from South Africa had the Ômicron variant confirmed. The verification was carried out yesterday afternoon (30) by Adolfo Lutz, after genetic sequencing in the laboratory of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein.
The Municipal Health Surveillance of São Paulo informed that the couple was vaccinated, in South Africa, with Janssen's immunizing agent.
Text translated using artificial intelligence.
