Description of the occurrence of Haff's Disease in the West of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to report the occurrence of an outbreak of Haff disease in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, the first one described in the state. This is a descriptive study of the "case report" type on three suspected cases that occurred at the end of May 2022, through notification to the Center for Strategic Information in Health Surveillance (CIEVS) and Epidemiological Surveillance of the Municipal Health Department called on the partners to investigate and direct the appropriate measures. The affected people were from the same residence, with a history of ingestion of Arabian fish (Seriola spp.), presented an incubation period of approximately seven hours, symptoms of intense myalgia, cervical and thoracic pain, muscle stiffness and weakness, dark urine (color of coffee) and laboratory tests showed elevated CPK, without fever, respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms. All cases evolved well. Reporting is essential to improve knowledge about epidemiology and raise awareness among healthcare professionals, allowing for earlier diagnosis and earlier containment of outbreaks. The occurrence of this event strengthened the local surveillance, alert and rapid response network, which contributed to the subsequent detection of two more cases.