The viral circulation of dengue in Argentina continues to grow and there are already 13 provinces that reported cases, which they amount to 9388 in total. The National Ministry of Health reported that this was the total number of infected registered until epidemiological week 11 of 2023 (from March 12 to 18).
Among the 9,388 cases of dengue, 8,504 acquired the infection in Argentina and its circulation is located in Buenos Aires (3 locations), the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Catamarca (2 locations), Chaco (2 locations), Corrientes (2 locations) , Córdoba (1 location), Entre Ríos (1 location), Formosa (2 locations), Jujuy (3 locations), Salta (9 locations), Santa Fe (16 locations), Santiago del Estero (6 locations) and Tucumán (15 locations). localities).
Dengue is a viral disease, transmitted by the bite of the Aedes genus mosquito, mainly by Aedes aegypti. When the mosquito feeds on the blood of a person infected with the Dengue virus, it acquires the virus and after 8 to 12 days it is capable of transmitting it to a healthy person through its bite.
Dengue: recommendations to prevent this disease
In the last four weeks, 8,001 cases were confirmed, with an average of 2,000 cases per week. “This value is 30 percent lower than the average registered during the same period of 2020 (the year in which we experienced the largest epidemic in our country since the reemergence of the disease in 1998),” Salud explained.
Dengue: 5 deaths from infections
In Jujuy, meanwhile, this Monday, March 27 another death from this cause was confirmed. This is a 49-year-old woman who died at the Arturo Zabala hospital in the city of Perico, 38 kilometers from the capital of Jujuy, and had pre-existing diseases. The epidemiological situation of the disease in that province has “an upward trend”warned official sources.
With this death, there are already 5 deaths registered since August of last year: 2 deaths were reported in Salta, one in Santa Fe, and days ago it was confirmed that a 21-year-old lost his life for this cause in the province of Tucumán.
As to chikungunya fever, 528 cases have been registered so far, of which 166 acquired the infection in Argentina, 129 are under investigation and 233 acquired the infection outside the country. According to the latest data, the circulation of this virus has been confirmed in 5 jurisdictions: Buenos Aires (4 locations), City of Buenos Aires, Corrientes (1 location), Córdoba (1 location) and Formosa (3 locations).
This viral disease, like the dengue virus, is transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. The name means “one who hunches over” as it describes the bent appearance of some people who suffer from it due to the severe joint pain it causes.
Dengue and chikungunya fever: symptoms to be aware of
The symptoms of dengue are fever accompanied by one or more of the following: pain behind the eyes, headache, muscle pain, and joint pain, nausea and vomiting, intense tiredness, blotchy appearance of the skin, and itching and/or bleeding from the nose. and gums.
The symptoms of chikungunya fever usually begin 3 to 7 days after the mosquito bite. The most common symptom is the sudden onset of fever, often accompanied by joint pain.
Other symptoms that may appear are: muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and skin rash. Severe joint pain usually lasts a few days, but can persist for months, affecting full recovery and return to daily activities.
“In the presence of any of these symptoms, it is very important to consult a doctor early, not self-medicate and avoid mosquito bites,” recommends the Ministry of Health.
Prevention measures to avoid bites and eliminate mosquito breeding sites
The main way these diseases are transmitted is through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The most important preventive measure is the elimination of all mosquito breeding sites, that is, all containers that contain water, both inside and around homes.
If the containers cannot be eliminated because they are used frequently, mosquito access to their interior must be prevented (covering tanks, cisterns and/or cisterns) or prevent them from accumulating water, turning (buckets, basins, drums), emptying and brushing frequently (pot holders, drinking fountains), or putting them under cover (returnable bottles). It is also advisable to place mosquito netting on the grilles.
To avoid mosquito bites, it is recommended to use repellent, always following the instructions on the package. In turn, it is recommended to wear long-sleeved clothing and light colors.
To protect babies (who cannot use repellent), nets or tulle should be placed over cribs and strollers. In relation to the home, it is important to place mosquito nets on doors and windows, and use environmental repellents such as tablets (interior) or spirals (exterior).
The application of insecticide by fumigation is indicated only in an outbreak situation and under the methodological indications of the current national regulations.
It is important to note that the insecticide only serves to eliminate adult mosquitoes that are transmitting the disease, it does not eliminate immature forms of the mosquito: eggs, larvae and pupae; Therefore, it is not enough to control these diseases if breeding grounds for new mosquitoes are not controlled and eliminated.
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