Costa Rica Closes 2013 with a Record 50,000 Cases of Dengue

The Costa Rica News (TCRN) – Costa Rica will close 2013 with some 50,000 cases of dengue, the most in its history. Health authorities are committed to maintaining a sustained prevention strategy in 2014.

The latest data from the Ministry of Health indicates that with just two weeks to conclude the year, there has been 49,428 dengue patients, of which at least 150 were of the serious variety but only one death has been counted.

This represents more than double the 22,243 dengue cases registered in 2012.

Health Minister, Daisy Corrales, said today at a press conference today that nearly 6.5 million was invested in preventive campaigns and actions against dengue across the country.

Despite the increase in sick those infected with the virus, the minister said the “appropriate care” by the health authorities prevented more dead people.

This virus, transmitted by the mosquito “Aedes aegypti” appeared in Costa Rica in 1993 and since then has killed 23 people. In 2007 there were the most deaths, with a total of 8.

Authorities have not specified a single reason for the increase in cases because they believe it is due to a combination of factors such as deficiencies in prevention programs, the movement of a third serotype of the virus and the population dropped its guard against mosquito breeding sites.

Before 2013, the year with the largest number of dengue cases was 2005, with 37,798.

The mosquito breeds in stagnant water, especially during the rainy season (May to November), although the disease has been present throughout this year.

According to the Ministry of Health, since the emergence of dengue in 1993, Costa Rica, a country with 4.7 million inhabitants, has accumulated 310,935 cases, of which 1,073 have been severe variety.

The Costa Rica News (TCRN)

San Jose Costa Rica