Fifteen-year-old Yanomami Is First Indigenous Brazilian to Die From Covid-19

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Alvanei Xirixana, 15, born in the Helepi Community, in the Yanomami Indigenous Land, in the State of Roraima, is the first indigenous Brazilian to die from Covid-19 in Brazil.

The report has been confirmed by the Special Secretariat of Indigenous Health (SESAI ), of the Ministry of Health, on Thursday evening, April 9th. Alvanei died at 9 PM from pulmonary infection complications due to Covid-19 disease.

The young man had been hospitalized since April 3rd, but according to the SESAI’s infectologist Joel Gonzaga, his health condition worsened “with cerebral compromise, thromboembolism and complications from the virus’ inflammatory response”.

The student’s health was impaired because prior to Covid-19 he had contracted “diseases like malnutrition, anemia, recurrent malaria and was treated last month (March) for Malaria Falciparum,” Gonzaga said.

The student’s parents, five indigenous health professionals, an airline pilot and the Helepi Community, with about 70 people, are currently in isolation and are being monitored by the SESAI for having been in contact with Alvanei. So far there is no information on how the boy became infected with the novel coronavirus.

Source: Fórum