Paraguay’s second couple in hospital with dengue

Via Merco Press :

" Paraguay’s Vice president Federico Franco and his wife lawmaker Emilia Alfaro are in hospital in the capital Asuncion following infection symptoms of the mosquito transmitted dengue which is very common in tropical areas during the rainy season.

Franco who is a trained doctor and his wife are in a private clinic in downtown Asuncion after showing clear symptoms of a dengue infectious condition, said the family doctor Cesar Britos.

“At this stage all dengue tests have proved negative, which is not unusual because the contagion only surfaces in the fifth to seventh day, and even tenth, when the correct diagnosis can be proved”, said Britos interviewed by a local radio station.

Apparently Franco was prescribed three days of full rest while his wife, Alfaro could be discharged in the next two days.

“The wife Mrs. Franco has a similar situation but weaker and is evolving much quicker” added Britos. Nevertheless until doctors are not sure of which dengue strain, “forces us to be cautious and patients to rest, no stress”.

Dengue is endemic in Paraguay, Bolivia, north of Argentina and most of tropical Brazil, and is transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. It causes high fever, head aches, vomiting, skin eruptions, and depression and in its haemorrhagic strain can be deadly."

Paraguay admits that the dengue epidemic is the most severe in a decade

Article Merco Press :

" Paraguay’s Minister of Public Health Esperanza Martinez acknowledged on Tuesday that the current mosquito transmitted dengue epidemic is far more severe than that of 2007, considered the worst in recent times, and claimed she has had limited support from city councils

“Undoubtedly it is the worst of all”, said a frustrated Martinez when asked about the impact of the disease that so far has caused 23 reported deaths compared to 17, four years ago.

Martinez said that the situation worsened significantly because of a new dengue virus, serotype 2 and the fact so many people are sensitive to the disease for having been exposed in previous epidemics.

The minister also pointed out the lack of a coordinated effort by regional town councils, “we have structural problems that can’t be addressed and improved” underlining that councils have failed in insisting in simple sanitation campaigns in their jurisdictions."

Dengue is back in South America: 31 dead and 46,600 suspected cases

An article from Merco Press :

" An outbreak of dengue fever across much of Latin America has killed 31 people since the start of the year and is showing no sign of relenting. Endemic in several countries there’s growing concern following the discovery of a very “aggressive” strain in Peru.

There is no vaccine for dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease endemic to tropical regions across the world, including Asia and Africa.

Since January 1, nearly 46,600 confirmed or suspected cases have been detected in Latinamerica according to the latest reports from the Pan-American Health Organization, PAHO.

Those deaths include at least 14 in Peru's north-eastern Amazon jungle region, eight in Colombia, five in Paraguay and four in Bolivia. Another twelve are been tested in Brazil for confirmation.

In 2010 the disease killed 1,187 people across Latin America, according to PAHO figures. Some 1.8 million cases were detected, the PAHO said."