Peru: Health emergency declared in Loreto, Madre de Dios, and San Martín February 7

Event

The Ministry of Health (MINSA) announced on Friday, February 7, that health emergencies have been declared in Loreto, Madre de Dios, and San Martín due to an ongoing dengue fever outbreak. As of early February, 4054 cases of dengue and ten associated deaths have been reported in Peru. According to the Minister of Health, the current outbreak is a different serotype of the disease that has not been seen in the country since 1990. MINSA launched a fumigation campaign on Saturday, February 8, to target mosquito breeding areas in the affected regions.

Further spread of the outbreak is likely over the coming weeks.

Context

Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rashes. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging.

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 in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds on their properties (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).