The increase in dengue cases set off alarm bells: there are almost 9,400 confirmed cases and more than 18,000 suspects still under study throughout the country, with an important focus in the city of Buenos Aires, where a concentration of reports is observed in communes 9 and eleven.
The experts emphasize prevention measures, which consist above all of eliminating the water containers found in the homes and their surroundings or changing their contents every three days if they fulfill any function.
Likewise, it is recommended to use mosquito nets and repellent, which can prevent the bites of the mosquitoes that transmit the infection.
Where in the country are there outbreaks of dengue?
According to the National Ministry of Health, since the beginning of the year, more than 9,000 cases of dengue have been reported, of which more than 4,500 were reported in the last week.
There is viral circulation in 13 jurisdictions: Buenos Aires, the city of Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Corrientes, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, Salta, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán.
Although there are scattered cases throughout the Buenos Aires territory, a strong concentration is observed in communes 9 (Mataderos, Liniers and Parque Avellaneda) and 11 (Villa General Mitre, Villa Devoto, Villa del Parque and Villa Santa Rita).
Likewise, according to the latest Epidemiological Bulletin, three deaths were registered, two in the province of Salta and one in Santa Fe.
Recently, the Tucumán Ministry of Health announced a fourth death in this province, which has not yet been included in the report.
Regarding the distribution by age, the report indicated that the largest number of cases affects the young and adult population, with less incidence in children under 10 years of age and over 65.
What is the reason for the rise in cases?
Leda Guzzi, an infectious disease doctor at the Santa Rosa Maternity Institute Hospital, explained that the circulation of dengue depends to a great extent on what happens at the regional level.
In this sense, the increase in cases of diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito – dengue, chikungunya, zika and yellow fever – reported in recent weeks in neighboring countries had a strong impact in Argentina.
The tourist movement of the summer season was decisive according to Sylvia Fischer, an independent researcher at Conicet and coordinator of the Mosquito Study Group of the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). “You have to see how many people travel, where they travel and the epidemiological situation of that place,” she said.
Right now, most cases are autochthonous, that is, not imported from abroad, as happened when the curve began to grow.
On the other hand, Guzzi contributed, the environmental conditions facilitate the circulation of the mosquito when temperate temperatures prevail with high levels of humidity.
The specialist specified that the very high marks represent a hostile climate for the mosquito, but that temperatures between 25 and 28°C are optimal for their survival.
In addition, rainfall and humidity promote a greater generation of mosquito breeding sites. Usually this occurs between February and May.
Finally, the expert mentioned another factor that affects the rise in cases: social behavior on hatcheries.
Any container in which water accumulates is a favorable place for the larvae to develop into adult mosquitoes and deposit their eggs. For this reason, all such containers should be removed from the home and surroundings.
