An epidemic of dengue fever, a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, has killed 26 people since the beginning of the year in Bolivia, the government announced on Wednesday February 15, while the increase in cases in recent days in the region of Santa Cruz ( East) is causing overcrowding in hospitals.
"
Cumulative cases of dengue fever in Bolivia have reached 6,845 (...) and the total number of deaths is 26
," the health ministry said in a statement.
“We are in a critical situation”
The department of Santa Cruz, the most populous and richest in the country, is “
the one with the highest number of infected people
” with 5,225 cases, the ministry said.
Dengue fever cases in the department have started to rise over the past few days, causing hospitals to become overcrowded.
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“
We are in a critical situation
,” assured Milka Caceres, head of emergencies at the “
Mario Ortiz
” children's hospital in the city of Santa Cruz, interviewed by the Red Uno channel.
Between Monday and Tuesday parents reported separately that their three babies, aged one to five months, had died with symptoms of dengue without being treated due to lack of space in hospitals.
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Last Sunday, a massive fumigation of Santa Cruz, which has 1.9 million inhabitants, was carried out by local authorities to reduce the incidence of the disease.
Dengue fever is an endemic disease transmitted by mosquitoes that causes high fevers, headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and, in the most severe cases, hemorrhages that can lead to death.
In 2022, Bolivia recorded 4,362 confirmed cases of dengue fever, including 10 deaths.
