2023-04-16 14:08:22
The latest data from dengue published by the Ministry of Health in the weekly Epidemiological Bulletin not only revealed the first two deaths in the City of Buenos Aires, bringing the total in the country to 35, but also explained why this Epidemic it is more aggressive, deadly and grows faster than the previous ones.
As reported by the Ministry of Health, the key is that of the more than 41,000 cases of dengue registered so far, some 30 thousand correspond to serotype 2, 73 percent of the total. More than 7 out of 10 infections are occurring with a strain that is the worst of all. Of the total deaths this year, 76 percent actually correspond to the DENV-2 serotype.
The medical literature gives an account of this characteristic of the disease: serotype 2 is the most harmful and capable of producing severe cases of dengue, even if it is a first infection. In addition, it contributes to greater circulation, something that is confirmed in the current epidemic compared to those of 2016 and 2020.
The virus of dengue it can have up to four serotypes and this year, according to the Ministry of Health, 1 and 2 are circulating in Argentina. Unlike previous epidemics, the bad news is that this is the first time that DENV-2 is predominant, so that the damage of the disease is evidently greater.
This is also linked to the fact that people who have already contracted dengue in the past it is more susceptible to the eventuality of a second infection. In 2016 and 2020, DEN-1 predominated. Now, the protagonist is the DEN-2. However, beyond this risk-enhancing element, the virulence of the strain in action today is key.
A work published in the journal Archivos Argentinos de Pediatría, signed by the infectologist Griselda Berberian, describes the behavior of the serotypes of dengue in the latest epidemics in the country. This historical comparison allows us to understand why what is happening now is something unprecedented.
“In the first outbreak of the 2008-2009 season -says Berberian-, 26,700 cases of dengue in Argentina. DENV-1 predominated, whose most important focus was in the NOA region. Seven years later, in 2016, the second dengue outbreak occurred, with 41,749 cases; the NEA was added”.
The expert continues with a precision that is key to understanding the phenomenon: “Four years later, in 2020, the third major outbreak of denguewith 59,277 cases, with the isolation of DENV-1 (72%) in its majority, but already diversifying the serotypes with DENV-4 (26%) and DENV-2 (2%)”.
In other words, the current proportion between the circulating serotypes is practically the inverse of that registered in 2020, the year in which 26 deaths occurred throughout the season. Now at least 35 deaths are reported. In 2016, on the other hand, there were 11 deaths and in 2009, 2.
Other data is consistent with this new scenario. The provinces with the most deaths this year are Salta (10) and Tucumán (9). Only serotype 2 circulates in both, which is present in 10 districts, while DENV-1 was reported in 7. Both strains circulate in the City and the province of Buenos Aires.
The balance of deaths does not stop growing. Although the National Bulletin counts 27 in total, the provincial reports already add up to 35 in nine districts, distributed as follows: Salta (10), Tucumán (9), Santa Fe (5), Córdoba (2), Jujuy (4 ), CABA (2), Buenos Aires (1), Entre Ríos (1) and Santiago del Estero (1).
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