NewsDesk @bactiman63
The Ministry of Health confirmed a case of dengue type 4 or DENV-4. The analysis of the sample was carried out at the Costa Rican Institute for Research and Teaching in Nutrition and Health (INCIENSA), who confirmed the diagnosis through Real-time RT-PCR molecular detection of serotype 4. This year only Dengue type 1 and 2 had been detected in the country.
The patient is a minor who went to the health center on August 23 for symptoms of fever, nausea, skin rashes, general weakness, muscle and joint pain and nose bleeding. The patient is stable and recovering at home.
It is important to note that this serotype of dengue had not been reported in the country since 2000, this scenario means that there are a number of susceptible people, so the population is urged to eliminate breeding sites so that mosquitoes do not find places to lay their eggs; In the same way, you are reminded to constantly clean and empty the containers in which water is stored for domestic use, check and clean canoes and all black plastic in the patios of the houses, as well as put disused tires indoors.
Likewise, the population is asked that if they present symptoms such as fever, general malaise, muscle and/or joint pain, they attend a health service and do not self-medicate, the warning signs of a case of dengue may include abdominal pain and vomiting.
The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the case, in order to determine the probable site of infection; The investigation includes travel history inside and outside the country and direct contacts in the last fifteen days, as well as a search for people with similar symptoms in the neighboring community.
Health will intensify interventions for the control of vectors that transmit the virus, and will ensure that blockades (fumigation) are carried out in the vicinity of the place where the case was detected, as well as the elimination and treatment of breeding sites.
Costa Rica has reported 4,137 total dengue cases year to date.