Brazilians treat burns of wounded in Lebanon using tilapia skin

Through a cooperation between the Association of Plastic Surgeons of Lebanese Descent, the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro and the Lebanese Consulate in the city, agreed to send a group of doctors from Rio de Janeiro to Beirut, on Sunday (9), to assist in the treatment of more than 5,000 injured after the big explosion in the port area of ​​the Lebanese capital.

In addition to medicines and supplies, the team will take around 30,000 cm² of tilapia skin to treat injuries caused by burns. The pioneering method has existed in Brazil since 2014 and was developed by researchers at UFC (Universidade Federal do Ceará), in Fortaleza.

The study points out the method's effectiveness in second and third degree burns and injuries, acting as a "biological dressing" in healing.

Tilapia skin is used today in research and in the treatment of burns in seven Brazilian states, and in other countries like Colombia, United States, Canada, Netherlands and Portugal.

A shipment with the skins will leave the UFC laboratory to Rio and continue with the doctors to Beirut. The group should stay in the Lebanese territory for 15 days, with support from the local government explained Jorge Derze, undersecretary of Health of Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil remains the fourth largest tilapia-producing country, after China, Indonesia, and Egypt.