Peru: Dengue fever epidemic in Piura region /update 5

Event

A major dengue fever epidemic triggered by flooding earlier in the year continues to plague the northwestern region of Piura. More than 43,000 confirmed or probable cases of the disease have been detected in region since the beginning of the year, including some 50 fatalities, as of July 1. However, transmission rates appear to be falling, with only 228 cases reported during the week ending July 1, compared to 5500 weekly cases in late May. Cities and towns with the highest case rates include: Piura, Castilla, Sullana, Catacaos, and Tambogrande.

Context

More than a million people across Peru were affected by torrential rains - which resulted in major flooding and landslides - from December 2016 to April 2017. This abnormally intense rainfall, which left more than 100 people dead along with widespread damage - has been attributed to the El Niño climatic phenomenon. Pockets of stagnant water provide fertile breeding grounds for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, potential carriers of dengue fever and the Zika virus, as well as chikungunya.

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 they may worsen bleeding issues associated with the disease; patients may be given doses of acetaminophen (paracetamol).

Advice

Individuals in Piura and Peru more generally 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.).