With over 31,000 dengue fever cases in the first seven weeks of 2024, Peru has declared a health emergency across most of the country, highlighting the urgent need for public awareness and preventive measures.
Peru is currently grappling with a severe outbreak of dengue fever, leading to the government declaring a health emergency across most of the country. The Ministry of Health reports a significant surge in cases, with over 31,000 incidents in the first seven weeks of 2024, doubling last year’s figures for the same timeframe. The health emergency spans 20 of the 24 provinces, including regions around Lima, prompted by the rapid spread of the virus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
In the city of Piura, the crisis is exacerbated by a combination of factors, including high temperatures reaching 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius) and water shortages that compel residents to store water in open containers, creating breeding grounds for the disease-carrying mosquitoes. With over 5,000 cases, Piura stands as the second most impacted area in Peru which, in total, has seen more than 34,000 cases by the initial eight weeks of the year.
The escalation of dengue cases is attributed not only to environmental conditions, such as those linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon but also to behavioural factors that increase the risk of mosquito bites. Efforts to mitigate the crisis include expedited funding and medical support, alongside public awareness campaigns advising against mosquito bites and emphasizing the importance of seeking prompt medical attention.
On a related note, the city of Niteroi in Brazil has embarked on a unique strategy to combat dengue by releasing mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria, which significantly impedes the transmission of the disease. This method, initiated through a partnership with the World Mosquito Program since 2015, has markedly reduced dengue cases in the area. Conversely, neighboring Rio de Janeiro faces its own dengue health crisis, responding with increased testing and the opening of dedicated health centers to manage the outbreak.
The situations in Peru and Brazil underline the varied responses to dengue outbreaks, from emergency declarations and public health measures to innovative biological control strategies.
