Peru Confronts Alarming Rise in Dengue Deaths with Emergency Measures
In a significant health crisis, Peru is grappling with a sharp increase in fatalities due to the mosquito-borne disease, dengue. The country has witnessed deaths more than tripling this year, prompting the government to declare an emergency. As mortes causadas pela dengue triplicaram este ano no Peru, leading to the implementation of an “emergency decree” by President Dina Boluarte’s administration. This decree unlocks special economic resources aimed at intensifying the fight against the dengue epidemic, which has predominantly affected impoverished regions.
The health ministry’s latest figures are a cause for concern, with 117 dengue-related deaths reported so far, a stark rise from the 33 fatalities recorded during the same timeframe last year. Suspected cases have surged, reaching approximately 135,000.
In response to the outbreak, health officials have initiated fumigation campaigns in Lima’s impoverished neighborhoods and even in cemeteries, targeting mosquito breeding grounds. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito, responsible for transmitting dengue, has been found in areas previously unaffected by the disease, with the highest case numbers emerging from coastal and northern regions, including the capital city.
Climate change is believed to be a contributing factor to the epidemic’s severity. Augusto Tarazona, an epidemiologist from the University of Lima, notes that the mosquito has adapted to changing environmental conditions, breeding more rapidly than in past years. He highlights that Peru’s incidence rate of 330.27 cases per 100,000 people surpasses those of neighboring countries Brazil and Argentina, underscoring the critical situation faced by Latin America in combating dengue.
The government’s emergency measures reflect a concerted effort to curb the spread of this deadly disease as Peru confronts one of its most challenging public health emergencies in recent history.
