Cases of Hemorrhagic
Dengue At Record High
The number of cases of
hemorrhagic dengue has
reached alarming
numbers, as the
Ministerio de Salud
reports 128 cases as of
August 4th, 44% of which
are in the Caribbean
province of Limón.
That is 77% more cases
that the same period
last year when health
officials were dealing
72 cases of severe
dengue.
Salud minister, María
Luisa Ávila Agüero, if
the trend continues this
year will be a record
year in the last 14
years of the epidemic in
the country.
According to health
officials, as of August
4 there have been 11.892
cases of dengue
registered, 118% higher
than last year.
"Limón y Liberia are the
areas most affected",
said health minister
Avila.
To that end the minister
said that, in the coming
days, the Caja
Costarricense de Seguro
Social (CCSS) and the
health ministry will be
reinforcing their
prevention program for
the area.
The large number of
cases are jeopardizing
the annual Limón
festival even though
residents of the area
are working closer to
combat the situation and
reduce the numbers.
Minister Avila said that
only 4% of the houses in
Limón have been
fumigated, mostly
because there is no one
home when the fumigators
arrive.
The minister added that
residents are now
allowing fumigators and
health officials enter
their home and the
treatment of the
officials by the
residents has gotten
better.
Those between then age
of 10 and 49 are the
most affected by the
hemorrhagic dengue. The
greatest risk for the
children, who have up to
seven times more
possibility of dying
than do adults.
In addition to Limón,
the provinces of
Guanacaste and
Puntarenas continue to
be affected.
Hemorrhagic dengue seems
to affect 2 women to
every one man, said
minister Avila. |
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