Venezuela: Dengue cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://english.eluniversal.com/2009/10/19/en_pol_esp_dengue-outbreak-in-v_19A2918131.shtml

Dengue outbreak in Venezuela for 11 weeks
The Ministry of Health?s epidemiological bulletin reports three cases of malaria in the state of Nueva Esparta

Spraying campaigns have not realized the expected results (File Photo)

Country
The fact that money allocations to the health care sector under Hugo Ch?vez's administration exceed by far those under any other Venezuelan government does not appear to have enhanced the sanitary services.

Cases of dengue and malaria in Venezuela reflect both that under the present administration there has been no progress in controlling such diseases and that they have increased dramatically.

According to the Epidemiological Bulletin Number 38, (20 and 26 September 2009) released by the Ministry of Health, the outbreak of dengue in Venezuela began eleven weeks ago. The bulletin reports 33,899 cases so far this year, 2.7 percent lower than during the same period in 2008, at 34,879.

The Ministry of Health's official document that leaked to the press shows that the number of cases has dropped. This decline, however, could be temporary due to the steady growth in the number of patients reported in the last 10 weeks. While 736 cases were reported between July 12 and July 18, 2009 (28th week), 1,827 cases were recorded between September 20 and September 26, 2009 (38th week).

The Venezuelan states with the highest number of cases are: Aragua (3,948), Lara (3,263), Barinas (3,011), Zulia (2,550) and Monagas (2,197).

Another striking fact is the number of deaths. Epidemiological reports in the regions show that during the year there have been seven dengue-related deaths: three in the state of Lara, three in Aragua and two in Carabobo. The Ministry of Health did not report any dengue-related death in 2008.

With regard to the dengue hemorrhagic fever, until September 26, 2009, the government had confirmed 2,731 cases representing 8.1 percent of the total patients. The ratio of incidence between dengue/dengue hemorrhagic fever was 18 to 1.

Malaria on the increase
The Epidemiological Bulletin of the Ministry of Health shows a 5.3 percent increase in the number of malaria cases in the 38th week of this year. In fact, until September 26, 2009, there were 24,082 malaria cases in Venezuela, 1,221 more cases compared to the same period in 2008.

Five Venezuelan states remain in alert or in outbreak status due to the increase in the number of cases. The states of Bol?var (19,784), Amazonas (2,859), Anzo?tegui (839) are the states with the highest incidence of the disease.

Former Health Ministers Rafael Orihuela and Jos? F?lix Oletta have repeatedly voiced concern about the re-emergence of malaria cases in states that, due to their climate and geographical situation, should not record this pathology, for instance Nueva Esparta (3), T?chira (2), Gu?rico (7) and Apure (17).

According to the former health officials, the epidemiological silence has been instrumental in the resurgence or re-emergence of these diseases transmitted by vectors (insects).

Translated by Gerardo C?rdenas

 

[Tonka]

Re: Venezuela: Dengue cases

http://www.eluniversal.com/2009/11/21/pol_art_reportan-826-casos-d_1664656.shtml

826 dengue cases reported in Carabobo
Regional Directorate of Health presented the annual numbers of disease
Valencia .- On Friday, the Institute for Health officially Carabobo state that until this date in this entity have been reported 826 positive cases of dengue. The regional director of Epidemiology, Peter Romero, said the network of clinics and hospitals were received Carabobe?o 2398 patients suspected of having the disease.

The specialist noted that despite the high number of patients who had the virus, only one death was recorded in the region. The case involved a child who lived in the urbanization of La Isabel, Valencia.

Carabobo stood until Friday in the channel endemic dengue alert, which means a prelude to the declaration of epidemic disease.

Romero explained that between weeks 41 and 45 was a decrease of 21% in the number of reported cases, a situation he attributed to the results of the operations undertaken by the Regional Executive have successfully covered 55% of communities.

He said that since epidemiological week 1 to 45, comprising the 10 ? months of this year, dismissed Insalud 1572 suspected cases of the disease.

 

[Tonka]

Re: Venezuela: Dengue cases

http://www.eluniversal.com/2009/11/26/pol_art_reportan-122-casos-d_1670551.shtml

122 cases of dengue reported in Lara in the last week
Regional director of epidemiology said the institute is ranked sixth in the country


Barquisimeto .- One hundred twenty-two new cases of dengue were reported during the last week in Lara state epidemiological.

The information was confirmed by the director of epidemiology in the region, Edgar Rivera, who also explained that only 76 cases were recorded Barquisimeto, while in others Cabudare 12.

"Barquisimeto showed an increase of 10 cases in connection with last week," he said while stressing that Cabudare, with eight fewer cases, the trend seems to be on the decline, however remains at the head of state.

In this regard, Rivero explained that the municipalities most affected by the disease are Iribarren and Palavecino, though he said Moran, Simon Planas and Torres have also contributed to the figures a significant number of cases.

During a press conference to provide details about an upcoming vaccination campaign added that Lara, who has always been considered an endemic area, currently ranks sixth in number of dengue patients in the country.

In this regard called on the collective consciousness Lara to make and take avoiding action to prevent potential mosquito breeding places of Aedes aegypti in both rainy periods and in the drought.

He also announced that next Sunday 29 November was made "a vaccination campaign in 394 posts care of Lara state, in which children receive less than five years in order to complete the immunization schedule tions.

Also reported that it will take the opportunity to implement the polio vaccine, pentavalent and trivalent viral.

As the virus AH1N1 reported that there are 77 confirmed cases and seven deaths entity.

The latest victim was a child under 2 years from the municipality Torres (Carora), while in the last 72 hours there have been four new cases.

Epidemiology director of Lara stressed the need for women at gestation, showing any symptoms of influenza A, rushed to the nearest health center, since pregnant women are one of the groups increased risk of complications.

 

[Tonka]

Re: Venezuela: Dengue cases

http://www.abn.info.ve/noticia.php?articulo=209285&lee=10

Dengue Epidemic in Venezuela must be addressed from the social conscience


Caracas, 27 Nov. ABN .- The epidemic situation of dengue recorded Venezuela this year, which has been notified in time by health authorities, and that despite the surge in cases remains low in comparison with the rest of Latin America, indispensably should be addressed from the social field with active community participation in prevention and elimination of mosquito breeding sites.

Health authorities in epidemiology have a turnout indispensable in addressing the situation but organized and conscious society should have the leading role.

This is considered the general director of epidemiology, Miriam Morales, who also stressed that the responsibility for prevention and control, basically prevent the spread-is, in principle, all social institutions, which must be led by the Ministry of Health as being counselor.

In statements to the Bolivarian News Agency (ABN), Morales said that dengue is not dealt with any vaccine-preventable disease, where the responsibility lies squarely with the Ministry, as guarantor of the doses needed, but is a situation that cross concerns all social institutions.

In this regard, the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with mayors and governors, has a series of actions and abatizaci?n fumigation, for preventing the transmission (when the vector changes from a mosquito larva) through the bites of "white feet.

The days of fumigation are permanent and are reinforced in the states of highest incidence, as Carabobo, Lara and Aragua.

It has also developed measures like the distribution of so-called "lid pails" in terms of raising awareness of the need for good water storage.

In this regard, Morales said: "In these times when weather conditions are in a state of rational use of water, that is certainly adding water tanks in our homes, but if the water is inadequate tenure, they become source of larvae that will generate adult worms (mosquito) that is the one who transmits dengue.

Therefore, "Morales stressed that the community need to realize is inside the home where he creates the serious problem of onset of breeding.

The director general of Epidemiology reported that epidemiological movements in recent months point to an epidemic like the 2001 and 2007.

In this regard, said the Ministry strengthens measures for information, guidance, training, hospital staffing necessary for society at large will embark on the control and resolution of the current problem.

To date, there have been about 33 thousand 889 dengue cases in the country, so the recommendation is to visit the doctor and not due to self-medicate.