Dengue Fever type 5 is discovered in a tropical country

The finding of a fifth serotype can increase the risk of new severe forms in patients already infected by the other serotypes

The latest news that Dengue type 5 was identified, after analysis of samples from Asia, caused surprise and a series of questions. For Dr. Pedro Tauil, physician, entomologist and post-graduation professor in Tropical Medicine at the Brasilia University (UnB), this is an important discovery that has another complication factor, both for clinical aspects – the possibility of more than one infection – as for it control through vaccines, which is being developed only for the four known types.

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Brazil seeks new strategy to combat the AIDS epidemic

Long before combined prevention models came up, Brazil did different, defending universal access to treatment as a significant measure to control the epidemic

Start to administer antiretroviral to increased risk groups, even before they are infected, in order to prevent possible HIV infection. "The strategy, that is already being used in the state of Rio Grande do Sul/RS, will be used as a study, of effectiveness, whose data will be able to reinforce the discussion on applicability of this action in the Brazilian public health scenario", forwards the director of STDs, AIDS and Viral hepatitis from the Health Ministry (HM), Fabio Mesquita, while balancing that the use of retrovirals has shown to be an effective strategy, once they reduce the infectivity and the virus circulation in the general population, striking the transmission within the risk groups and outside of it.

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