More than 6,700 new cases of dengue were reported last week (from March 19 to 25) throughout the country, adding up to 16,143 patients with the disease, while viral circulation is registered in 14 Argentine jurisdictions, 10% below the number of people affected in the same period of 2020, when the last epidemic year occurred, according to sources from the National Ministry of Health.
The health portfolio reported today that up to epidemiological week 12 (from March 19 to 25) 16,143 cases of dengue were reported in the country, of which 14,224 acquired the infection in Argentina.
Meanwhile, up to epidemiological week 11 (from March 12 to 18), 9,388 cases of dengue had been reported, of which 8,504 acquired the infection in the country.
Compared to the last epidemic year, in 2020, the percentage of cases remains 10 percent below for the same epidemiological week (from March 12 to 18), while for 2016 it is 34 percent below for the same time interval, according to the sources in a statement.
Córdoba, one of the provinces with cases
At the moment, the circulation of this virus was identified in 14 jurisdictions: Buenos Aires, the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA), Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Corrientes, Formosa, Chaco, Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, Santiago del Estero, Tucuman and La Rioja.
Regarding Chikungunya fever, 657 cases have been registered so far, of which 244 acquired the infection in the country, 159 under investigation and 254 outside the country.
At the moment, the circulation of this virus has been confirmed in 7 jurisdictions: Buenos Aires (towns of Almirante Brown, Pergamino, Quilmes and San Martín); CABA, Córdoba (in Córdoba Capital and La Calera), Corrientes (Paso de la Patria), Formosa (Tres Lagunas, Las Lomitas and Formosa Capital); Misiones (Puerto Iguazú) and Santa Fe (Rosario and Capital).
Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of the Aedes genus mosquito, mainly by Aedes aegypti.
When the mosquito feeds on the blood of a person infected with the dengue virus, it acquires it and following eight to twelve days it is capable of transmitting it through its bite.
The symptoms of dengue are fever accompanied by one or more conditions such as pain behind the eyes, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting, intense tiredness, appearance of skin spots and itching and may or may not be accompanied, bleeding nose and gums.
When faced with a dengue diagnosis, the importance of following the instructions of health personnel and attending follow-up and control consultations is recalled.
If at the time the fever subsides or in the days that follow, any of the symptoms worsen, reappear, or new symptoms are detected (difficulty breathing, intense abdominal pain, profuse mucosal bleeding, irritability to drowsiness, recurrent vomiting), it is important make an immediate medical consultation.
The symptoms of chikungunya fever usually begin three to seven days following the mosquito bite, the most common sign being the sudden onset of fever, often accompanied by joint pain. Other symptoms that may appear are: muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and skin rash.
In the presence of any of these symptoms (of dengue, such as Chikungunya), the Health portfolio recalls the importance of making an early medical consultation, avoiding self-medication and mosquito bites to prevent them from continuing to transmit the virus.
The main form of transmission of these diseases is through the bites of infected mosquitoes, for this reason, the most important preventive measure is the elimination of all mosquito breeding sites, that is, all containers that contain water, both indoors of the houses and their surroundings.
It is also advisable to place mosquito netting on the drain grates in addition to doing it on windows and doors, since the mosquito adheres its eggs to the walls of the containers, for which it is necessary to brush the inside of the walls.
It is recommended to use repellent always following the instructions on the package and it is suggested to wear light-colored long-sleeved clothing.
To protect babies (who cannot use repellent), nets or tulle should be placed over cribs and strollers and have mosquito nets on doors and windows and use environmental repellents such as tablets, aerosols (interior) or spirals (exterior).
