San Juan (Puerto Rico), Mar 28 (AP) Dengue is surging throughout the Americas early this yr from Puerto Rico to Brazil, with 3.5 million circumstances of the tropical illness reported to date, well being officers mentioned on Thursday.
That tally is 3 times the variety of circumstances reported at this level final yr, mentioned Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of the Pan American Well being Organisation, the regional workplace of the World Well being Organisation within the Americas.
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Final yr, there have been a file 4.5 million circumstances within the area, and PAHO officers mentioned they count on this yr will set a brand new file.
Often dengue spikes in the course of the moist season, which remains to be months away. And a few areas are reporting dengue for the primary time, officers mentioned.
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The dengue virus is unfold to folks when they’re bitten by contaminated mosquitoes. Driving the surge are rising temperatures, speedy urbanisation, droughts and floods linked to local weather change, and poor sanitation and a scarcity of strong well being techniques in some international locations, well being officers mentioned.
The virus could cause crushing complications, fever, vomiting, a rash and different signs. Whereas most contaminated folks do not get signs, extreme circumstances can result in dying. There is not any particular therapy apart from ache drugs.
Many of the present circumstances are within the Southern Hemisphere, with greater than 80 per cent in Brazil, adopted by Paraguay, Argentina, Peru and Colombia. Some 1,000 deaths have been reported within the Americas to date this yr.
Within the Caribbean alone, greater than 25,000 circumstances have been reported, with French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic most affected, mentioned Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, PAHO’s assistant director.
On Monday, Puerto Rico’s well being secretary declared an epidemic, with greater than 540 circumstances, with not less than 341 folks hospitalised. The numbers are regarding as a result of elements of the island are at the moment below a average drought, and the rainiest month is not till August.
The surge in circumstances compelled Rio de Janeiro to declare a public well being emergency final month forward of Carnival. Peru did the identical for many of its provinces, and others have adopted swimsuit.
There are 4 totally different dengue viruses circulating within the Americas, mentioned the PAHO’s Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri. “We now have to be ready for this.”
Some international locations have launched specifically bred mosquitoes that include a micro organism referred to as Wolbachia that fights dengue.
Final month, Josian Bruno, who lives within the San Juan capital of Puerto Rico, developed a fever and physique aches. A lab take a look at confirmed that the 38-year-old had kidney failure due to extreme dehydration. He spent six days within the hospital, and the day after being launched, his take a look at outcomes got here again constructive for dengue.
“After they inform you it is renal failure, that is scary,” he mentioned.
A month has handed, and Bruno nonetheless has problem transferring his arms and strolling, and he hasn’t been in a position to resume his thrice-weekly runs.
Whereas a brand new dengue vaccine is out there in restricted provide, it requires two doses with a three-month interval. Barbosa mentioned officers are monitoring how properly it truly works. He mentioned a single-shot vaccine will not be out there till subsequent yr. (AP)
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