Investigation of two outbreaks of suspected oral transmission of acute Chagas disease in the Amazon region, Para State, Brazil, in 2007.
Acute Chagas disease (ACD) is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. ACD outbreaks due to probable oral transmission occur regularly in small family gatherings that are exposed to contaminated foods. We studied two cohorts of residents on islands in the Breves and Bagre municipalities, in July and August 2007, to identify risk factors of transmission and to recommend preventative measures. Of the 25 cases identified in both cohorts, 13 (52%) were men, and the most frequent symptoms were fever (96%),asthenia (80%), myalgia (76%), abdominal pain (64%), retro-orbital pain, headaches and asthma (52%). We recommend detailed investigation of future outbreaks and other studies to better understand and control oral transmission of T. cruzi.
Beltrão
Henrique de Barros Moreira
Hde B
Field Epidemiology Training Program, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Brasília, DF, Brazil. henrique.beltrao@saude.gov.br
Cerroni
Matheus de Paula
Mde P
Freitas
Daniel Roberto Coradi de
DR
Pinto
Ana Yecê das Neves
AY
Valente
Vera da Costa
Vda C
Valente
Sebastião Aldo
SA
Costa
Elenild de Góes
Ede G
Sobel
Jeremy
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D016266:Food Parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult