RIO DE JANEIRO, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian Ministry of Health on Wednesday confirmed 677 cases of measles in the country, saying the virus was brought in by immigrants from Venezuela.
Brazil currently has two outbreaks in the states of Amazonas and Roraima, both in the northern region, said the ministry.
A total of 444 measles cases have been confirmed in Amazonas, where there are another 2,529 suspected cases; in Roraima there are 216 confirmed cases and 160 to be verified. Another 17 confirmed cases are found in other states.
So far, there are three confirmed deaths of measles, two in Roraima and one in Amazonas. There is also one suspected case of death.
The outbreaks are attributed to the increase of Venezuelan immigration in the two states, as confirmed by the Health Ministry that the virus identified in Brazil is the same variation found in Venezuela.
Figures show that in the past 18 months, over 120,000 Venezuelans have crossed into the Brazilian state of Roraima. About half of them have already left Brazil, but those who stay are living mostly in the states of Roraima and Amazonas.
The government is working to control the spread of the disease by providing vaccination throughout the country, said the ministry.
Brazil was awarded a certificate of eliminating measles virus in 2016 by the Pan-American Health Organization.
