Influenza expands in the country, which records an increase in cases in at least three regions. The number of confirmed deaths rose to ten in Santa Cruz, Tarija reported two deaths and Potosí adds 13 positive.
“In the epidemiological week 13 we had 117 cases, in 14 were 306, in 15 we went up to 474 and until this Thursday we have been 264. The contagios continue to rise,” said Dorian Jiménez, head of epidemiology of the Departmental Health Service (headquarters) of Santa Cruz, in his report on the situation of the influenza that records an accelerated rise in the number of affected.
The venues confirmed 10 deaths for this evil, with the two recently analyzed by the scientific committee, but there are another eight deaths under study. Most of the victims were over 60 years, with base diseases, which had not been vaccinated. One of the cases under analysis corresponds to a deceased minor at the Children’s Hospital, whose cause is still investigated.
On the other hand, authorities of the Tarija headquarters confirmed two deaths for this evil, which correspond to two older adults of the Yacuiba municipality, border with Argentina.
The head of the Epidemiology Unit, Claudia Montenegro, indicated that both people had base diseases, gave influenza positive and suffered complications because of the virus.
According to Montenegro, 10 people with serious symptoms compatible with influenza in the Chaco region have also been reported, so they are reinforcing surveillance actions throughout the Chapaco department.
“We are facing a broadly propagation transmissible respiratory disease, so it is essential that the population come to vaccinate and adopt the recommended biosecurity measures,” Montenegro said.
According to data from the Tarija headquarters, this department adds ten positive cases so far, of which five have registered in the capital city, three in Yacuiba and two in Bermejo.
Similarly, the head of the Epidemiology Unit of the Potosí Headquarters, Huáscar Alarcón, informed that to date that department records 13 cases of the H1N1 influenza and warned of outbreaks in educational units. Alarcón said that three of the patients are under the age of fifties who are in Kindergarten.
Broken in Palmasola
In the midst of the red alert for influenza activated in Santa Cruz, the Palmasola prison kept visits to this Thursday due to suspected cases of flu and meningitis among the prison population. The measure, which was applied for four days, seeks to reinforce health control and surveillance, including sampling.
“We are living a season of colds, and some situations are also affecting the penitentiary population. Last Saturday night, in a protection of both the inmates and the people who come to the prison to make visits or procedures, the visits were determined to temporarily suspended,” said the director of Penitentiary Regime, Mauricio Romero.
He added that the recommendations of the venues are being followed to handle the situation. “Samples and evidence have been taken within the prison, and we are carrying out cleaning and disinfection in coordination with the deprived of liberty,” he said Thursday.
Recommendations
The head of Epidemiology of the Sedes de Santa Cruz asked the population to go to the nearest medical center barely appear respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat. “If you have symptoms, do not self -medicate, do not go to school or work, and use Barbijo permanently. The treatment exists, but if they are late, there is not much to do,” he warned.
He also asked parents not to send their children to classes if they have symptoms and announced that, after the holiday per Holy Week, filters will be reinforced in educational units.
“The teacher or the goalkeeper must identify children with symptoms and send them home for their attention,” he recommended.
As for vaccines, the Ministry of Health is expected to send the doses in the next two weeks. Jiménez recalled that it only applies once a year.