Porto Alegre has confirmed its first case of measles in five years, according to the Municipal Health Department. The patient, an adult resident of the city, recently returned from a trip to the United States and lacks proof of vaccination. Symptoms began to appear in early April 2025, leading health officials to issue an urgent alert.
The Directorate of Health Surveillance (DVS) responded quickly to the situation, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance due to the highly contagious nature of the measles virus. In a statement, the DVS recommended that all health units intensify screening efforts, ensure preventive measures are in place, and act swiftly when encountering suspected cases.
Measles symptoms, which include high fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and red spots on the skin, can easily be mistaken for those of dengue fever, which is currently affecting Porto Alegre. The city is grappling with an epidemic of dengue, having recorded two deaths and approximately 4,200 confirmed cases. This overlap in symptoms necessitates careful patient evaluation by healthcare professionals.
On Thursday, April 17, 2025, the city declared a public health emergency in response to the dual threat posed by measles and dengue. Raquel Carboneiro, a nurse with the DVS, stressed the importance of vaccination as the most effective means of preventing measles. “We reinforce that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. The population should check their vaccination status and, in case of doubts, seek any health unit,” she stated.
In light of the confirmed case, the DVS has issued detailed guidelines for managing suspected measles cases. Patients arriving at health facilities with symptoms indicative of measles should be immediately isolated and provided with surgical masks. Protective measures against aerosol transmission should be implemented as soon as clinical suspicion arises.
Measles is classified as a disease of mandatory notification. This means that healthcare providers must report suspected cases to the health authorities while the patient is still present. Reports can be made via phone during business hours at (51) 3289-2471 or (51) 3289-2472, with an epidemiological duty available 24 hours a day for urgent notifications.
Following the notification of a measles case, health authorities will instruct the collection of diagnostic samples. The patient must remain in isolation for at least four days following the appearance of the characteristic red spots on their skin. Additionally, health teams are tasked with identifying all locations the patient visited in the six days prior to and four days after the onset of symptoms.
Individuals who have had direct contact with the infected person are advised to receive the measles vaccine within 72 hours, unless they have already completed their vaccination schedule. If this 72-hour window has passed, selective vaccination is recommended. All contacts should be monitored for 30 days to watch for any symptoms that may arise.
As Porto Alegre navigates the challenges posed by both measles and dengue, health officials are urging the community to remain vigilant and proactive regarding vaccination. The DVS has been working tirelessly to inform the public and healthcare providers about the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage to prevent future outbreaks.
The return of measles, a disease that was previously considered eliminated in many parts of the world, serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for vaccination and public health preparedness. With the right measures in place, health authorities hope to contain this outbreak and prevent further cases.
In summary, the emergence of measles in Porto Alegre highlights the critical need for community awareness and action. Vaccination remains the most effective tool in combating the spread of this highly contagious disease, and health officials are calling on residents to take their vaccination status seriously. As the city continues to address the dengue epidemic alongside this new measles case, the collaboration between healthcare providers and the public is more crucial than ever.
