Dengue and COVID-19: risk indicators in Ciego de Ávila

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Dengue y COVID-19: indicadores de riesgo en Ciego de Ávila

Morbidity due to dengue and COVID-19 in the province continues to add patients to the statistics and, although we cannot speak of a worsening of the epidemiological situation, neither of improvements; Rather, we have experienced a plateau in the last two weeks and the constancy is as worrying as a possible worsening, since it normalizes the symptoms and lowers the perception of risk.

For this reason, Dr. José Luis López González, deputy director of Epidemiology in the province, insists on individual responsibility, both to go to the vaccination points to receive the corresponding booster dose, according to each population group, and to practice the autofocal, open the doors to the operators for the fumigation and comply with the home entry.

“The DENV-3 serotype predominates in the territory and is the most likely to evolve into serious forms, including hemorrhagic dengue. Surveillance takes place at home and the role of the Family Doctor and Nurse's office is paramount, however, we have verified that people do not fully comply with home admission. It has been indicated to provide mosquito nets in health centers to those who need them, whenever they exist.

To date, the reactivity is 33.6 percent, a number that corresponds to 252 positive cases identified in a week, with a worse prognosis in Morón, Bolivia, Primero de Enero and in the main municipality. An infestation index of 0.26, out of a permissible minimum of 0.05 is added to this.

In the case of Majagua, previously declared in open dengue transmission, the incidence of the disease begins to decline and a reactivity estimated at 9.7 percent demonstrates the effectiveness of the intensive actions carried out there. However, the infestation rate is still high, so the presence of the vector and the possibility of it biting and getting sick within a radius of 100 meters are considerable risk factors.

Today, the adulticide treatment is not applied in one hundred percent of the universe, as it used to be, due to the lack of resources, but the blocking of the case is carried out, that is, the house of the positive person and the surrounding areas are fumigated. In turn, each week the most affected blocks are defined and what actions to carry out.Regarding COVID-19, 48 autochthonous cases have been identified in the last 14 days, which confronts us with the dilemma of coexisting in time and space with two diseases with similar symptoms.According to López González, the PCR test is carried out in health centers, once the person enters with symptoms suggestive of the virus and after having been evaluated in one of the consultations for acute respiratory infections established in Primary Health Care. Similarly, special attention is paid to children who have not yet been vaccinated or completed the scheme, pregnant women and adults with underlying pathologies.The incidence rate is 12.2 percent and, of the 19 existing health areas in the province, eight exceed that average, with emphasis on Venezuela, Bolivia and the main municipality.

That none of the open focus controls lead to an event and clip the wings of the Aedes aegypti are major challenges here and now, if we want the epidemiological indicators to return to their comfort zone. Not everything is done.