Bolivia declares dengue emergency as six deaths are reported

Monday, February 6th 2012 - 06:43 UTC

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The mosquito transmitted disease is endemic in Paraguay and Brazil

The Bolivian province of Santa Cruz has declared a sanitary emergency in the region following an outbreak of the mosquito transmitted dengue fever which has already caused at least six deaths, according to local officials.

There are 40,000 suspected cases of dengue across Bolivia, although only 450 have been confirmed. The disease virtually explodes with the arrival of the rain season in the landlocked country.

With six people already reported dead, health workers are scrambling to disinfect public areas to halt the chance of more people becoming sick. Bolivian authorities are also trying to educate locals on how to keep mosquito populations down.

The emergency statement means all public health institutions must “treat free of cots all patients with symptoms of dengue and severe dengue”. Last year Bolivia reported 47 deaths because of dengue, the worst season since records became available.

The disease is also common in other Mercosur countries, particularly when the rainy season. Countries most affected and where it is endemic are Paraguay, Brazil and to a certain extent some provinces of north Argentina. Uruguay so far has been able to keep the epidemics outside of its territory. The few cases reported were infected overseas particularly during summer months in Brazil.

According to the World Health organization, dengue is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes Agiptis mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. It occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Symptoms appear 3—14 days after the infective bite. Dengue fever is a febrile illness that affects infants, young children and adults.

Symptoms range from a mild fever, to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash. There are no specific antiviral medicines for dengue. It is important to maintain hydration. Use of acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. aspirin) and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. Ibuprofen) is not recommended.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever (fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding) is a potentially lethal complication, affecting mainly children. Early clinical diagnosis and careful clinical management by experienced physicians and nurses increase survival of patients.