The city of Blumenau in the Itajai Valley is facing an alarming dengue epidemic. In the last four days alone, the city has recorded 1,373 cases and 103 outbreaks of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Dengue epidemic in Blumenau increases occupancy of intensive care unit beds – Photo: Agência Brasil/Reproduction ND

According to the bulletin published this Monday (15), a total of 24,996 probable cases have accumulated in Blumenau since the first week of the year. Of these, 18,464 are under investigation, 6,532 are confirmed and eight deaths have been recorded.

Currently, 15 people are hospitalized in intensive care units and 39 in wards.

Rising dengue cases impact ICU bed occupancy

The Santa Isabel Hospital, a national benchmark for highly complex procedures such as transplants, published a note last Saturday (13) highlighting the strain facing health services caused by rising dengue cases.

The hospital stressed that the facility’s emergency service uses the Manchester Risk Classification Protocol, which prioritizes patients based on the severity of their condition.

The hospital’s intensive care unit bed occupancy is currently 100%. The infirmary has also seen a significant increase in demand, with 92% of beds occupied.

Santa Antonio Hospital

At the main hospital Blumenau, which serves the SUS (Unified Health System), 90% of adult intensive care unit beds are occupied.

Hospital Santo António is the reference for clinical oncology for adults in the 14 municipalities of Vale do Itajaí, as well as for pediatric oncology and hematology in the 53 municipalities that make up Medio Vale do Itajaí, Alto Vale do Itajaí and Foz do -Rio Itajai.

The facility’s neonatal intensive care unit occupancy rate is 100%. In the pediatric intensive care unit, 70% of beds are occupied.

According to the institution, emergency care continues to be in high demand. The main medical need is dengue fever, followed by acute respiratory tract infections and thirdly complaints of diarrhea and gastroenteritis.

In one of the city’s main hospitals, intensive care unit beds are 100% occupied and emergency services are overwhelmed – Photo: Disclosure/PMB

Mercy Hospital

The Misericordia Hospital, located in the Vila Itupava district, does not have an intensive care unit, but according to its communications department, it has 68 active hospital beds, divided into medical, surgical and psychiatric clinics.

Currently, the hospital’s medical clinic occupancy rate is 64%, six of which are dengue cases.

Dengue Treatment Center

A dengue care center has been established at Campus 3 Furba (Regional University of Blumenau), located on Rua São Paulo. According to the mayor’s office, on average 400 patients are treated in the premises per day.

The center was designed to ensure care for all patients and assist with medical appointments, as well as serve as a backup site for hospitals.

The multidisciplinary team of 20 people, including doctors, nurses and nurses, operates on an open door basis, seven days a week, including holidays, with extended hours from 7am to midnight.

The space continues to operate 24 hours a day only as a hydration reference for medical facilities and hospitals.