[NYTr] Dengue Fever Epidemic Threat in Paraguay

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Dengue Fever Epidemic Threat in Paraguay

Asuncion, Nov 9 (Prensa Latina) A number of 300 Paraguayans might get
hemorrhagic dengue fever before the threat of a new epidemic in
Paraguay, said sanitary authorities in this South American country
Friday.

The Public Health Ministry Surveillance director Gualberto Pinanez said
more than 28,000 sick people with classic dengue fever and 54 with
hemorrhagic fever have been reported, which might be worse with the
arrival of high temperatures.

The number of cases has not increased rapidly but Pinanez called the
population to contribute in the struggle to eliminate mosquito nests to
avoid propagation.

Hundreds of Paraguayans could die if it is not possible to stop the
extension of the disease, the official said after specifying that the
biggest incidence of cases takes place in the departments of Asuncion
and Central, both with high index of larvae infestation.

Meanwhile, environmental brigades, integrated by public officials and
sanitary specialists, carry out raking works and elimination of focuses
of the aedes aegypti mosquito in the area of the capital.

The objective is to stop a turnaround of the disease and make the
population aware about the importance of its participation in the
prevention tasks Hugo Quintana, director of the mentioned sanitary
region, emphasized.

ef tac tpa

PL-47