This week the National Ministry of Health presented an important innovation in dengue control: This is a new Situation Room that will operate centrally and “in real time”. It incorporates technological and methodological innovations to try to closely follow the evolution of this pathology.
“Now,” as the doctor explained Mauro Bertolininew head of the Dengue Coordination Unit”, “all districts and their health managers will be able to access available information and updated on dengue cases, on the places where they are registered, on deaths, with only a week’s delay.
Until now, the various provincial and municipal officials responsible for fighting the disease had access to this information through the Epidemiological bulletin who assured a delay up to 15 days for the publication of the information, with the consequent delay in the adoption of effective preventive actions.
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Bertolini explained that the new system carries out permanent monitoring variables such as suspected and confirmed cases, Compared to the situation in previous years, it generates automatic alarms that are activated when there is a sustained increase in cases in a region, for three consecutive weeks, “which allows us to organize a timely and faster response to a possible outbreak”.
The Ministry explained that the epidemiological information will be displayed on dynamic and interactive displayboards, with intelligent data analysis. But all this information will not be available to the general public: only the managers and health authorities of the 24 jurisdictions of the country will have access to it.
This innovation in case control comes just in time. Also this week from the Ministry of Health of the province of Buenos Aires the first laboratory-confirmed case of dengue fever reported in the province. This is a 32-year-old male, resident in the district of La Matanza, with no travel history and the virus has been identified as corresponding to the DEN-1 serotype.
national test
It is also worth mentioning that this week the National Drug Administration (Anmat) has approved the marketing of AR Detection Kit. This is the first national antigen test for the diagnosis of the disease. This scientific innovation was developed in the Molecular Virology Laboratory directed by Conicet researcher Andrea Gamarnik at the Leloir Institute Foundation.
Juliana Cassataro and Andrea Gamarnik, the two awarded scientists
The test is intended for clinical analysis laboratories. It will be produced and marketed by the Argentine company Lemos laboratory e seeks to resolve the lack of supplies in the face of a possible new health crisis like the one that occurred earlier this year.
Interview: Time.news Editor with Dr. Mauro Bertolini, Head of the Dengue Coordination Unit
Time.news Editor: Good morning, Dr. Bertolini! Thank you for joining us today. Your recent innovation in dengue control has garnered a lot of attention. Can you tell us more about the newly launched Situation Room?
Dr. Mauro Bertolini: Good morning, and thank you for having me. The Situation Room is an exciting development for our dengue response efforts. It’s designed to operate centrally and in real-time, allowing health managers across various districts to access updated information about dengue cases, fatalities, and affected areas with just a week’s delay.
Time.news Editor: That sounds like a significant improvement! Previously, how long did officials have to wait for data, and what challenges did that pose?
Dr. Mauro Bertolini: Until now, the information was available through the Epidemiological Bulletin, but it had a delay of up to 15 days. This lag meant that health officials couldn’t react quickly to emerging threats. Effective preventive actions were often delayed, and the risk of outbreaks increased.
Time.news Editor: The ability to monitor data in real time must be a game-changer. Can you elaborate on how this system improves your response to potential outbreaks?
Dr. Mauro Bertolini: Absolutely! The new system continuously monitors key variables, such as suspected and confirmed cases. It generates automatic alerts when there’s a sustained increase in cases over three weeks. This rapid notification enables us to mobilize resources and take preventive measures in a timely manner, potentially averting larger outbreaks.
Time.news Editor: That’s incredibly efficient! Can you explain a bit more about how the alerts work? What happens once an alert is triggered?
Dr. Mauro Bertolini: When an alert is activated, it prompts immediate investigation into the local health situation. We assess the data, coordinate with local health teams, and develop response strategies tailored to the specific needs of the affected area. This could include community outreach, increased mosquito control measures, or deploying health personnel for more extensive case management.
Time.news Editor: It seems that this approach not only helps curb outbreaks but also fosters collaboration among health managers. How do you foresee this impacting overall public health strategy in your country?
Dr. Mauro Bertolini: Enhanced collaboration is indeed one of our primary goals. With real-time data, health managers can share insights and strategies more effectively. This collective intelligence will strengthen our public health infrastructure, ultimately leading to more proactive measures against dengue and potentially other diseases in the future.
Time.news Editor: That’s a visionary approach, Dr. Bertolini. Before we wrap up, are there any additional technologies or methodologies integrated into the Situation Room that you’d like to highlight?
Dr. Mauro Bertolini: Yes, we’re also exploring the use of artificial intelligence to analyze data patterns and predict potential dengue outbreaks before they escalate. Additionally, we’re employing citizen engagement tools, allowing the public to report symptoms and localized outbreaks, which further enriches our dataset.
Time.news Editor: Fantastic initiatives! Thank you for shedding light on these innovative efforts in dengue control, Dr. Bertolini. It’s reassuring to see the advancements in public health aimed at safeguarding communities.
Dr. Mauro Bertolini: Thank you! It’s my pleasure to share our work. Together, we can make significant strides in combating dengue and improving public health outcomes.