DENGUE/DHF UPDATE 2010 (07)

In this update:
[1] Colombia
[2] Bolivia
[3] Brazil (Minas Gerais)
[4] Argentina (Misiones)
[5] French Guiana
[6] Sri Lanka

****** [1] Colombia Date: Fri 12 Feb 2010 Source: EPA (European Pressphoto Agency), Agencia EFE report [in Spanish, trans. Mod.TY, edited] <http://www.google.com/hostednews/epa/article/ALeqM5i0BowfCu5sZ3ePUqnUFTl9cwUvaw>

According to and information release, today [12 Feb 2010] the Colombian government issued a "green alert" which obligates public and private hospitals to implement prevention and mitigation plans for vector-borne diseases such as dengue, which has 11 179 cases in Colombia [so far in 2010].

The Ministry of Social Protection released a circular, which indicates that "with the objective of guaranteeing adequate health services, a "green alert" is declared in public and private hospitals of the country beginning at 12:00 hours on 12 Feb [2010]. The message was sent to governors, mayors, sectional and local health directors, the institutions that provide services, and the companies that promote health.

The document revealed that "up to the 11th of February [2010], the Surveillance System reported 11 179 dengue cases, of which 9899 were serious dengue [infection cases].

The director of the National Institute of Health, Juan Gonzalo Lopez, said that there are 785 Colombian municipalities which are located under 1800 meters [5905 ft] of altitude and that are susceptible to the presentation of this disease.

The victims of serious dengue [infections] are in the departments [state or province equivalent] Valle del Cauca (southwest), Santander (northeast), Norte de Santander (northeast), Huila (southwest), Cundinamarca (center), and Risaralda (center).

The Ministry of Social Protection reported up to now, a total of 30 deaths in the country possibly caused by dengue, of which 14 have been confirmed and 16 are under study.

The increase in dengue cases, [the virus of] which the mosquito _Aedes aegypti_ transmits , is another of the consequences of the El Nino phenominon, [the effect of] which is present in Colombia since the end of 2009.

To prevent the propagation of this insect, and thus of the disease, the authorities recommend avoiding trash pileups, control of puddles, eliminating water catchments in houses and fumigating in high risk places.

Back Home Up Next