Peru: Major dengue fever outbreaks continue /update 1

Event

Recent outbreaks of dengue fever continue to see rises in cases across Peru, with an epidemic declared in the northwestern city of Piura. Major flooding that has devastated much of the country in recent months has led to the outbreaks. In Piura, an average of 300 cases are reported on a daily basis, and in total more than 20,000 confirmed or probable cases of the disease have been detected in the city since the beginning of the year. Other affected areas include Lambayeque (three deaths), La Libertad (1100 cases, two deaths), Tumbes (three deaths), Cusco’s La Convención province (nearly 300 cases, three deaths), and the Ica region (more than 600 cases, one death).

Context

Pockets of stagnant water provide fertile breeding grounds for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, potential carriers of dengue fever as well as chikungunya, the Zika virus, and yellow fever. More than a million people across Peru have been affected by flooding and landslides due to heavy rainfall since the beginning of 2017.

Symptoms of classic dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver and hemorrhaging. Be aware that aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen) should be avoided as these drugs may worsen bleeding issues associated with the disease; patients may be given doses of acetaminophen (paracetamol).

Advice

Individuals in Peru are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites - e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping under mosquito-netting or in an air conditioned room - and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (small pockets of fresh water, such as rain water that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).