MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Low intensity” dengue epidemics in Paraguay

Mosquito Aedes aegypti

The Paraguayan government admitted a “low intensity” dengue epidemics following 360 cases reported in hospital emergencies of which 179 remain highly “suspicious” of having been contaminated by the mosquito transmitted disease.

Ivan Allende, head of Sanitary Alert from Paraguay's Health Ministry said that the majority of cases have been reported in rural areas and so far "only three have been confirmed in periphery areas of Asunción", the capital. "Of the 360 cases reported, following lab tests we discarded 146 people but we are double checking blood lab tests of another 179", he added. However Allende admitted that the dengue epidemics is still of "low intensity" and "we can yet not declare a national emergency", but authorities remain alert and concerned. Dengue is common during the rainy season in tropical areas with the Aedes aegypti day-biting mosquito --that prefers to feed on humansâ€"growing its larvae in the abundant stagnant water. Symptoms of dengue fever are a sudden onset of severe headache, muscle and joint pains, fever and rash. The dengue rash is characteristically bright red and usually appears first on the lower limbs and the chest; in some patients, it spreads to cover most of the body. There may also be gastritis with some combination of associated abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. However there's a more virulent strain dengue hemorrhagic fever which can cause death. Neighbouring Bolivia also has reported 3.000 cases of dengue fever so far.