Peru: Spike in disease in flood-hit areas /update 5

Event

Major flooding that has devastated much of the country in recent months has led to an increase in disease rates in affected areas. Pockets of stagnant water provide fertile breeding grounds for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, potential carriers of dengue fever, chikungunya, the Zika virus, and yellow fever. Between January 1 and April 22, nearly 6000 confirmed cases of dengue fever were reported nationwide (including 13 deaths), along with nearly 14,000 additional probable cases. The majority have been reported along the northwestern coast, among the areas worst-hit by flooding, including the cities and regions of Piura, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Ica, and Ayacucho. A rise in cases of chikungunya was also reported during the same period, particularly in Piura where some 350 confirmed or probable cases were detected; in total, some 650 cases have been reported nationwide.

Increases in the incidence of water-borne diseases is also a concern due to the contamination of water sources following flooding and landslides as well as damage to water supply infrastructure.

Context

More than a million people across Peru have been affected by flooding and landslides due to heavy rainfall since the beginning of 2017. More than 100 deaths have been confirmed, along with the widespread destruction of roads, bridges, homes, schools, hospitals, and water supply infrastructure. While rains and flooding have subsided somewhat, the country is still in recovery mode. It should be noted that the popular tourist destinations of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and Lake Titicaca have been unaffected by the flooding. Areas south of Lima had been hit by flooding but have since recovered. The Amazon Basin region has not received unusually high levels of rain.

Symptoms of dengue fever and chikungunya are similar and include: fever, headache, joint and muscle ache, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and rash. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially fatal complication that is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging.

Advice

Individuals in Peru are advised to consume only bottled or decontaminated water, avoid foods that cannot be thoroughly cooked, peeled, or disinfected, and to protect themselves against mosquitoes (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping under mosquito-netting or in an air conditioned room).