June ended with significant increases in suspected dengue cases in the leading pediatric hospitals in the capital. One public hospital reported 212 cases of children with possible dengue.
Last weekend the Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital admitted 28 cases, ending the month with 179 cases, some 25 more than in May, and reaching 620 cases in the first six months of the year, according to deputy director, Clemente Terrero.
So far this year, 17 children have died of what is thought to be dengue, even though official records state no deaths from dengue this year.
At the Santo Socorro Respiratory Disease Hospital, last month suspected dengue cases peaked at 33, according to director Lucas Gómez. The Hugo Mendoza Children’s Hospital has also seen an increase in cases, with the head of epidemiology, Manuel Colomé, saying that this strain of dengue was more aggressive than ones they had seen previously.
Private hospitals are also reporting increases in dengue cases. Rafael Mena, president of the Association of Private Hospitals and Clinics (Andeclip) has urged doctors to be aware of the symptoms of the disease that include fever, headache, aching of the eyes, lack of appetite and a rash in some cases.
Of the cases analyzed in the reports of the Epidemiology Department, some 75% tested positive for dengue.
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Listin Diario
3 July 2019