New bulletin shows that dengue is not receding in Saint Helena and cases are multiplying every week

A new epidemiological bulletin was issued this Tuesday (23) by the Health Department of the city of Santa Helena, pointing to an increase in the number of confirmed dengue cases.

Compared to last week, the increase is 106 more cases. In the previous bulletin, there were 469 cases already confirmed in the municipality. This number rose to 575. Of these, the vast majority have already left the transmissibility period and 85 are active, that is, transmitting the disease.

Since the beginning of the epidemiological year in August 2023, 1,691 suspicions have been catalogued, of which 838 have been discarded, practically 50%. There are still 278 under analysis.

Due to the large number of dengue cases and observing the technical opinion of the 20th Regional Health Region, Santa Helena has been in an Emergency Situation since Monday (15th). The municipality has a building infestation rate of 4.9%, above the recommended rate of 1%. Now at the beginning of May, another LIRAa, Rapid Index Survey for Aedes aegypti will be carried out by the field team.

Despite all the team’s efforts and public awareness through permanent campaigns for some time now, dengue fever continued to grow in the municipality, hence the need for the decree that allows work with more detailed actions to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito and the disease. The increase in the number of cases also impacts the public health care network.

Medical care and overload

The partner hospital reinforced its medical team, the UBS center started to provide services on weekends, the overload of the Basic Units and the Micheletto Hospital itself continues, including admissions, as it is also a reference, in addition to Santa Helena, for Entre Rios, São José and Diamante.

The protocol for the most serious cases is transfer to Bom Jesus Hospital in Toledo, which is the reference in these situations.

The queues are longer and the average waiting time has increased due to this circumstance at this time of epidemic.

The guidance continues and has now become a real appeal: Eliminate stagnant water to stop the spread of dengue fever, which has already claimed one victim in Saint Helena.

Care

It seems that there has been little care and what is necessary is to redouble this care, eliminating any possibility of water accumulation, the only means of breeding the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the terrible disease that can lead to death.

As it is practically impossible to completely eliminate the mosquito, it is necessary to identify objects that could become breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti.

For example, an old basin or tire left in the backyard of a house is a risk because, with the accumulation of rainwater, the female mosquito could lay eggs in these places. So, the only way is to clean and remove everything that could accumulate water and pose a risk.

Homes concentrate outbreaks, eggs survive in the dry

In 90% of cases, the mosquito’s focus is in homes. In 45 days of life, a single mosquito can infect up to 300 people.

The dengue mosquito egg can survive up to 450 days, even if the place where the egg was deposited is dry.

If the area receives water again, the egg will become active and can reach adulthood within 2 to 3 days. Therefore, it is important to eliminate water and wash containers with soap and water.

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