Asuncion, IP Agency.- The Ministry of Public Health reported that at the end of epidemiological week (EW) 27, 32,765 consultations for respiratory viruses were recorded. The demand for care for respiratory conditions remains above the alert threshold.
According to the latest official report, respiratory syncytial virus circulation is progressively increasing, followed by SARS-COV-2, rhinovirus, influenza and metapneumovirus.
As for the number of hospitalised patients, a slight decrease of 1% is observed. In week (SE) 27, 327 patients were hospitalised for respiratory viruses, with the most affected age groups being at the extremes of life, between 2 and 60 years. A total of 1,135,619 doses of influenza vaccine have been administered.
Covid-19 cases
Epidemiological week (EW) 27 closed with 117 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is evidence of an increase in infections compared to the previous week.
During this period, 15 people were hospitalized for Covid-19. The highest number of hospitalized patients was observed among adults aged between 50 and 59 years, 53% of whom were male.
The cumulative number of deaths is 87, of which 76% correspond to patients over 60 years of age. According to genomic surveillance, the Omicron JN.1 variant predominates.
Timely consultation
The Ministry of Health reminds that, in the presence of fever and respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat, among others), a face mask should be used and a medical consultation should be sought for a proper diagnosis, to determine the virus and receive the corresponding treatment.
In this context, he emphasizes that it is crucial to comply with the prescribed rest to prevent the spread of the virus.
Annual vaccination is urged
It also mentions the importance of the annual application of the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines to reduce the risk of hospitalizations and associated deaths.
These vaccines are available at all vaccination centres in the country and are indicated for the population from 6 months of age onwards.
Vaccination sites can be found at vacunate.gov.py. It is essential to keep children’s regular vaccination schedule up to date, especially for children under 5 years of age.
Measures to prevent contagion
Wearing a face mask if you have respiratory symptoms is essential. It is also essential to wear one when visiting health facilities. The face mask should not be removed when coughing or sneezing.
It is essential to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, throw away the tissue and then clean your hands.
If you do not have a handkerchief, cover your mouth and nose with the inner bend of your elbow to reduce the dispersion of droplets and aerosols, as well as contamination of surfaces.
Additional Recommendations
- Wash your hands correctly and frequently.
- Ventilate closed spaces.
- Avoid close contact with people showing signs of respiratory illness such as coughing or sneezing.
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2024-07-21 08:13:56
