The Costa Rica News (TCRN) – The Costa Rica Ministry of Health is asking the public to continue to increase their preventive measures in 2015 to thwart dengue and the Chikungunya virus which are both spread by mosquitoes.
The manager of epidemiological surveillance, Roberto Castro, has called on the population to eliminate breeding sites where you can the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which transmits dengue and can also transmit the Chikungunya virus that produces similar symptoms, but more severe.
“It’s really important to check the house and remove all potential breeding sites where you can find the mosquito,” said Castro.
Tires, animal troughs, wells, outdoor toilets and abandoned vehicles or any small container of stagnant water are all perfect places for the Aedes aegypti mosquito to house their young.
According to the latest official data from December 6, 2014 (week 49 of the year) 10,460 dengue cases were counted, representing a decrease of 78.7% compared to the 49,161 registered that week in 2013.
Castro explained that despite the dramatically better results this year seen in 2014, there are areas of the country that are especially affected like the town of Corredores in the province of Puntarenas (Central Pacific) and Santa Cruz in Guanacaste (North Pacific).
In 2013, Costa Rica closed with a record breaking 49,993 cases of dengue and had the most fatal cases seen in the country.
As for the Chikungunya virus, the latest data from the Ministry of Health indicates that at least 40 people were affected by this virus in 2014. (EFE)
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose, Costa Rica
