Without yet reaching the highest point of the epidemiological curve, dengue fever exceeds the hospitals in Santa Cruz.
At least 11 deaths in six municipalities put the figures in the red at a time of high sensitivity in a rabid summer. Intermittent rains, high temperatures, the accumulation of breeding sites, among other conditions, increase the risk of the proliferation of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito (female).
70% of the cases are found in Santa Cruz, 21% in Beni and the rest are distributed in other departments. Figures and statistics that force important behavior changes.
The images of saturated hospitals, with children on the benches, in waiting chairs and people in the corridors suffering from a painful and dangerous disease fill our retinas with worry and astonishment. There is 90% occupancy of beds and the prospect of continuing to rise for several more weeks will soon mean that saturation will force us to face new extraordinary measures not only in medical service personnel but also in health infrastructure. The epidemiological curve is rising sharply, with a doubling of cases week after week.
Today the reality, in this eastern region, calls for doubling new actions for the prevention, containment and control of the disease.
This viral, febrile, dynamic and systemic disease has the region in suspense and does not discriminate.
According to the viral load and the immunity of the patient, this ailment can be coped in different ways. It then has to do with adequate and timely care, avoiding self-medication, which often tends to be worse than the disease. The health authorities describe that, in case of having the first symptoms such as fever, muscle pain behind the eyes, general malaise and headache, medical consultation is essential to confirm or rule out the disease.
What worries the authorities is the positivity rate that exceeds 20%, meaning that we are out of control of this evil.
Among the recent reports it can be noted that there are at least 860 positive cases in 23 municipalities and 12 affected provinces. The age group that has received the greatest impact is 6 to 29 years of age, where 52% of the total cases due to disease are concentrated.
The circulation of serotype 2 shows a greater aggressiveness of the disease, also causing more transmissibility, greater complications for patients, which is why greater demand is understood in health centers and, therefore, more possibilities of occupying beds.
The outlook in the world is no less worrying. Official deaths also multiplied, according to the World Health Organization. There is no vaccine against dengue and almost two thirds of the world’s population live in areas at risk of contracting it. Every year, up to 400 million people are infected with dengue. Approximately 100 million people become ill from the infection and 40,000 die from dengue hemorrhagic fever.
The campaign against dengue begins at home and with awareness of the risks of this epidemic. The obligation of thorough cleaning to combat larvae and mosquitoes must be present in the community. The enemy is all around us, hands on deck.
