Peru: Dengue fever in Piura region

Event

An increase in cases of dengue fever has been reported in the Piura region. According to regional health officials, a total of 28 cases had been reported in the week ending December 19. The worst-hit districts are currently Castilla, Piura, Veintiséis de Octubre, Salitral, and Chulucanas.

The region was hit by a major dengue fever epidemic earlier in the year following devastating flooding. More than 48,000 cases have been reported in the region since the beginning of the year, including 42 deaths. Nationwide, 74,000 cases have been reported in 2017 (67 deaths). After Piura, the worst-affected regions have been La Libertad, Tumbes, and Ica.

Context

Symptoms of 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, 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).

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, was 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.

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.).