Pernambuco declares emergency situation due to high demand for pediatric beds

The Government of Pernambuco, through the State Department of Health (SES-PE), published in the Official State Gazette (DOE) this Friday (26/04) the decree of public health emergency due to the high bed occupancy rate in neonatal and pediatric Intensive Care Units (ICUs), due to the increase in cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The state decree is valid for 90 days and enables the adoption of all administrative measures necessary to respond to the emergency situation.

From now on, the SES-PE should invest even more in actions aimed at emergency containment with measures aimed at prevention, control and expansion of the child health care network.

NUMBERS

Until epidemiological week 16, which runs from April 14th until the 20th of the same monthwere notified 1,675 cases of SARS in the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (Sivep-Gripe), 989 (59%) in patients aged 0 to 14 years and 686 (41%) in people aged 15 and over. There was an increase in 27.7% in cases compared to epidemiological week 09 (beginning of the seasonality period) and an increase in 79.2% compared to the first week of the year 2024.

For the state secretary of Health, Zilda Cavalcanti, it is necessary to intensify prevention measures.

“We launched the contingency plan that is currently being implemented, including the opening of new beds. It is necessary for parents and guardians to keep their children’s vaccinations up to date, avoid exposure to crowds and, with any symptoms presented, remember to protect their airways and perform hand hygiene and adequate isolation”, he emphasizes.

According to monitoring by the SES-PE Regulation Center, this Friday (04/26), there were 66 patients waiting for a vacancy in the Pediatric ICU, and 14 patients waiting in the Neonatal ICUat this moment, throughout the State.

CONTINGENCY PLAN

In February, the SES-PE announced a Contingency Plan for Seasonal Respiratory Diseases in Children, which guides guidelines for the care network services, acting across the board to mobilize society to adopt preventive measures. Furthermore, the Secretariat also continues to alert the population about the importance of vaccination against influenza, pneumococci and Covid-19.

OPENING OF BEDS

This year, the State Department of Health has already opened 88 new beds with pediatric profile intended for the treatment of SARS, being 40 Pediatric ICU beds, 10 Neonatal ICU and 38 pediatric wards to reinforce the care network. It has also been working to open new beds.