NewsDesk @bactiman63

Given the significant increase in cases and deaths from dengue, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) will declare a health emergency due to an outbreak in 13 regions and 59 districts of the country, which are affected by the presence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits the disease. 

Image/Robert Herriman

The measure has an action plan presented by the Directorate for Prevention and Control of Metaxenic Diseases and Zoonoses, and with contributions from the Minsa Technical Committee on Dengue, which seeks to intervene in the regions of Amazonas, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Cusco, Huánuco, Ica, Junín, Lambayeque, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Piura, San Martín and Ucayali.

Among the main immediate actions to be carried out are the strengthening of primary care health services and hospitals, epidemiological surveillance, and prevention and health promotion activities, with the participation of the community, authorities, and strategic allies.

In this line, the installation of 24 Clinical Surveillance Units (UVICLIN) and 14 executing units for care with Febrile Units (UF) will be carried out in health establishments and hospitals to ensure the care and recovery of affected patients.

Also the development of larval control (elimination of mosquito eggs and larvae) and fumigation (elimination of adult mosquitoes) in homes in the 59 districts, as well as entomological surveillance and strengthening of laboratories for dengue molecular diagnostic tests.

In addition, the participation of municipalities and community committees will be promoted to carry out campaigns to collect and eliminate mosquito breeding sites, such as tires, bottles, plastic containers or other objects where rainwater accumulates, as well as the development of campaigns of mass communication in regions in coordination with the Minsa to disseminate dengue prevention and control measures.

It should be noted that, so far this year, 11,585 cases and 16 deaths from dengue have been reported in the country. In 2022, on this same date, 6,741 cases were reported, which means a considerable increase, according to figures from the National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention, and Disease Control (CDC Peru ).