First Child Death To Hemorrhagic Dengue
Isaac Alonso Montenegro Castillo, at only one year and six months, has become the first child victim of Hemorrhagic Dengue this year.

María Luisa Ávila, ministra de Salud (health minister), said yesterday day that a pericardic fluid exam confirmed the hemorrhagic dengue death.

The little boy, a resident of Paso Canoas in the southern zone, died last April 19 at the Hospital Nacional de Niños (Children's hospital in San José), transferred from the hospital in Cuidad Neily, according to the boys mother, Beatriz Castillo Morales.

Minister Avila confirmed the cause of death on Friday, who told reporters yesterday, following the examination of samples sent to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Georgia, Atlanta. The minister said that the test results confirm that the boy died from complications from a rare form of Dengue.

Avila added that this is the first case of its type in the last 14 years.

With the death of little Isaac, the death toll is seven who have died since 1993 when the virus first was back in Costa Rica. The first six deaths were all of adults.

Minister Avila, who is also a specialist in infectious diseases, said the death was a result of an unusual complication.

"Obviously this is a warning. I have always said that, unfortunately, children with Dengue have eight times more chances of complications and death than adults", said minister Avila.

To date this year (up to May 12), a total of 4.630 people have been sick with Dengue. In Puntarenas, Limón and Guanacaster, the increase is 122% over the same period last year.

Of the total, only 40 cases are Hemorrhagic, 60% of which are between 10 and 34 years of age.

The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) - social security - will be launching its third great campaign against the Dengue virus, minister Avila adding that areas most affected will have reinforced resources to combat the virus.