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Published Monday, November 23, 2020
Dengue-infected cases
on the rise in the country
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
In addition to the pandemic caused by covid-19, health authorities warn about the increase in cases of dengue fever.
According to Ministry of Health statistics, as of Oct. 31, there were 9,438 cases of people infected with dengue in the country.
The total number of cases reported last year were 9,400 patients.
At this time there are cases reported throughout the country ranging in ages. However, the regions with the most cases are Limón Province in the Caribbean Coast with 4,353 cases and the southern zone of Puntarenas Province in the Pacific Coast, with 2,228 cases.
Also, the most impacted demographic are people between the ages of 10 to 39.
Specialists confirmed 120 cases of Zika virus and 49 of the Chikungunya virus.
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae. The infection, known as Zika fever, often causes no or only mild symptoms, similar to a very mild form of dengue fever.
Chikungunya is an infection caused by the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Symptoms include fever and joint pains, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and a rash.
Dengue causes flu-like symptoms and sometimes progresses to a life-threatening condition called severe dengue, formerly known as hemorrhagic dengue.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito. There are four distinct serotypes of the dengue virus: DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3 and DEN 4. Symptoms appear in 3–14 days, on average 4–7 days, after the infected bite. Dengue fever is a flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults.
There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. Severe dengue is potentially lethal, but early clinical diagnosis and careful clinical management often save lives.
According to specialists, the only method to control or prevent dengue transmission is to fight against vector mosquitoes. When the symptoms of the disease appear is when the person realizes that he has been infected by the virus.
No deaths have been reported from either of these viruses this year, authorities said.
Among the measures to prevent the spread of the mosquito are:
• Keeping a tidy home to prevent mosquitoes from finding places to lay their eggs.
• Properly removing solid waste and possible clean water deposits, no matter how small.
• Covering, emptying and cleaning water containers every week.
• Applying suitable insecticides to the containers in which water is stored outdoors.
• Using personal protection measures at home, such as window screens, long-sleeved clothing, repellants, insecticide-treated materials, coils, and vaporizers.
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What have you heard about people infected with dengue in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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