According to government data, deaths from mosquito-borne dengue sickness have more than tripled in Peru this year. As a result, the country is stepping up efforts to curb an epidemic that has disproportionately affected underprivileged communities.
Last week, President Dina Boluarte’s government announced the signing of an “emergency decree,” authorizing special economic measures. These measures supplement the plan to combat the outbreak, which experts assert is exacerbated by climate change.
Mild symptoms such as nausea, rashes, and bodily pains are common. However, a rarer severe type, more dangerous for infants and pregnant women, can cause internal bleeding and be fatal.
According to Peru’s health ministry, 117 dengue deaths had been documented this year as of Thursday. This marks a significant increase compared to the 33 deaths recorded in the same period in 2023. Suspected cases have also more than tripled, reaching almost 135,000.
“The mosquito has been adapting to climate change and is reproducing at a faster rate than previous years,” said Augusto Tarazona, an epidemiologist at the University of Lima.
Tarazona stated that, considering population proportions, Peru had a greater infection and fatality rate than Brazil or Argentina. Peru’s incidence rate stood at 330.27 cases per 100,000 people.
“We are in a critical situation in Latin America,” he told reporters.
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