From the Directorate of Epidemiology of the province they indicated that in recent weeks there have been increases in infections. High temperatures and the rainy season create conditions for mosquito proliferation. “The vaccine would not prevent an outbreak either,” said Natalia Alcaraz.
The Ministry of Health reminds us of the importance of deepening dengue prevention measures.
The head of the Directorate of Epidemiology of Chaco, Natalia Alcaraz, analyzed the provincial scenario regarding the evolution of dengue for the beginning of the summer season and the months in which rains above normal are expected, within the framework of the phenomenon. of El Niño. He anticipated that the heat and rain conditions allow us to foresee a “growth in cases” and stressed that it is “fundamental” to deepen security measures, beyond the expectations generated by the landing of the first vaccines that will be available only in the private sector, available in Chaco.
In statements to Provincial Radio, Alcaraz explained that “this year we did not have the cutoff and the end of dengue.” “Throughout 2023 we have had cases that decreased a little in July and August because we had cool days; But now, with this increase in temperatures and rain, we are seeing an increasing trend in infections,” he described. The progression of the last three weeks shows that confirmed cases have been doubling every seven days and by now they will exceed 100 per week.
Current protocol
The director of Epidemiology explained that currently, both cases detected in the private and public sectors must be reported through the National Health Surveillance System (SISA). Through this step, the tools available in the system are activated, for example informing the Vectors Department, which is the one that will try to block the focus.
Blocking the outbreak consists of assisting the person who tested positive and fumigating the home to prevent contagion to other family members and nearby neighbors. “At the same time, follow-up is done from the Epidemiology Directorate with telephone calls and doctors, monitoring the evolution of these people,” he explained. Among the planned actions is also the delivery of repellent to the person whose case has been confirmed. In the case of suspicion due to the patient’s symptoms, for the moment confirmation is made through the laboratory and not due to an epidemiological link.
Circulating serotypes
Alcaraz commented that, in the country, the DEN-1 serotypes circulate and DEN-2 is what is currently circulating in our country, as autochthonous; but DEN-3 “entered in recent months and was diagnosed in a person with a travel history to Catamarca.” In this particular aspect, the specialist pointed out that “dengue hemorrhagic fever is not directly linked to the specific serotype, but rather to the person’s immune response to the disease.” “Obviously, this is influenced by whether the person had one, two or three dengue fevers; but the bleeding has to do with how the body responds to the virus it is having,” she added.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever can cause almost immediate death of the person, due to blood loss from all parts of the body, such as ears, nose, eyes, mouth; among other. However, Alcaraz was calm when he assured that “currently, in our country there were no cases like that, but emphasis is placed on the fact that a person, if they have already had the disease and contract it again, could manifest itself in this way.”
Vaccines and prevention
Alcaraz finally referred to the eventual arrival of the vaccines to Resistencia and recalled that the drugs will be available “only in the private sector.” In some provinces they are already being sold to pharmacies, but the National Ministry of Health has not made purchases of this vaccine.
“At the moment, we have no guidelines or an estimated time of when they could arrive or that they are applicable free of charge and at the national system level,” he pointed out.
Currently, vaccines are not available in Chaco, but they are in Santa Fe, Córdoba, Buenos Aires and Tucumán.
The doses cost between 37 and 40 thousand pesos and two applications are necessary, one initial and the other after three months.
“It is essential to know that the vaccine will not prevent you from having dengue, but it will prevent the symptoms from leading to complications and hospitalization,” said Alcaraz and added: “For this reason, the vaccine does not eliminate an outbreak, that is, if I I have many cases, the vaccine is not going to reduce the number of cases, although it will contribute to reducing the number of cases.”
The director of Epidemiology recalled that it is vital to fight against the mosquito, which grows in clean water tanks (such as pet water bowls), or in gutters; For example. “Hence, it is important that we commit to cleaning our yards, and that the Municipalities help with the removal of debris, among other important measures,” she concluded.
2023-11-14 21:16:18
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