Dengue fever: Paraguay surpasses 300 notifications per week and more than 2,000 cases

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – According to the Arbovirosis Surveillance report, the weekly average of suspected cases of dengue fever in the last three weeks is 304. Of these, 58% are concentrated in Central and Asunción.

Last week, Caazapá and Misiones reported a slight increase in notifications, while San Pedro Sur and Boquerón registered a decrease in viral circulation. They urge to persist in the control actions and the elimination of breeding sites, as it is essential to cut the life cycle of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

They also mentioned that according to the weekly report, nationally, the accumulated incidence rate is 229.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, while Alto Paraguay and Presidente Hayes present a rate higher than 500 per 100,000 inhabitants. So far this year, 16,892 notifications of suspected dengue fever have been reported in Paraguay, of which 2,060 are cases of the disease.

They pointed out that the predominant serotype in the national territory continues to be DEN-2. The departments of Concepción and Boquerón have co-circulation of DEN-2 and DEN-4. Asunción and Itapúa have co-circulation of DEN-2 and DEN-1.

They indicated that eliminating breeding sites is the primary strategy to prevent the Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that transmits dengue, zika, and chikungunya, from reproducing. In this sense, it is recommended to discard all unused objects that accumulate water (caps, bottles, containers).

Change the water in flower vases daily after cleaning them with a brush, soap, and water and cleaning the roots and stems. It is equally essential to discard the water accumulated in pots/planters. Those unusable objects that cannot be disposed of, such as household appliances or tires, should be placed under a roof or covered to prevent them from accumulating water.

Chlorinate the swimming pool to prevent mosquito breeding, considering that any container with water can become a breeding ground for dengue and other arboviruses. They recommend ensuring that garbage does not accumulate inside water drains to prevent water blockage. Likewise, keep tanks, drums, buckets, and any recipient containing water to be used covered.

Change the animal drinking water every day after cleaning the recipient with a brush, water, and soap to eliminate eggs that may have adhered to the walls of the container.

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