Rio builds an extra structure to deal with flu cases

Data from the Rio de Janeiro State Department of Health (SES) indicate that, in the last week, there was an increase of 429% in the number of consultations for flu syndrome in state Emergency Care Units (UPAs), mostly in adults . Attendances increased from an average of 189 per day, in the period from 16th to 21st of November, to 1,000 daily in the period from 22nd to 28th of November.

Therefore, the secretariat reinforced the importance of immunization against Influenza A, especially for priority groups, which are children aged 6 months to under 6 years; pregnant women; postpartum women, women who gave birth less than 45 days ago; and people with comorbidities, compromised immune systems and those aged 60 years or over.

Given this situation, the secretariat set up a new stage of the contingency plan to face the outbreak of influenza A in the state, which will start working on Friday (3).

tents

The state's Emergency Care Units will receive tents to care for patients with the flu syndrome. The first were installed at the UPA Marechal Hermes, in the north of Rio, and will have a triage service and two doctors' offices for exclusive care of these cases. The structure was created to meet the increased demand of patients who come all the time in search of care in the public network, both in the state and in the capital.

The Secretary of State for Health, Alexandre Chieppe, said that the format has already been used successfully by the department during the H1N1 outbreak in 2009, and in the dengue, zika and chikungunya epidemics. “It allows us to streamline the care of patients and to screen the mild cases, which are the majority, so that we can pay more attention to more severe cases. We believe that this process will reduce service time and queues at the UPAs”, he said.

According to SES, the structures, worldwide are called campaign hospitals, are closed, air conditioned, and belong to the State Department of Health for over ten years. Therefore, according to the folder, "the measure will not generate costs extras”.

Patients who arrive at the unit with flu symptoms will be the first to be treated in a reception tent, to undergo screening. Afterwards, they will be forwarded to medical offices in field hospitals or in the UPAs themselves. But if it is necessary to carry out examination and medication, they will be immediately directed to the interior of the units.

In the northern zone, the scheme will work in UPAs Marechal Hermes, Tijuca and Penha. In the south zone, it will be at UPA Botafogo. The initial intention of SES is to continue with this service structure throughout the month of December, but the schedule may change as the flu outbreak evolves.

The contingency plan also includes 11 teams from SES and Fundação Saúde that will work on daily rounds in all UPAS and hospital emergencies, to minimize the impacts caused by the influenza epidemic and reduce the waiting time for patients. "These visits result in five daily reports, which are used to assess the performance of the units and the need for reinforcement of professionals", informed the SES in a statement.