In this line, he highlighted the creation in 2019 of the Unit for Surveillance and Control against the Dengue of the Municipality, from where the activity of the Aedes aegypti mosquito is monitored and response to possible infections is provided. Viani clarified that in Tigre there are seven confirmed cases, all neighbors with a travel history, that is, they are not native cases, which were identified thanks to the protocol used by the municipal government. He also pointed out that fumigation is effective when it is carried out in homes of people who present Dengue and referred to the forms of contagion, symptoms and preventive measures to take in homes.
– What is the current situation of the country against Dengue?
As of August 15, 2019, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert for the entire Americas of a new epidemic cycle. In Argentina, there are currently confirmed cases in all the northern provinces. The first ones that were announced in January were in Misiones, Chaco, but also in the Province of Buenos Aires and Federal Capital.
For there to be an epidemic, three conditions have to be presented: that the vector exists, that is, the Aedes aegypti mosquito; that there are susceptible people, that we are all; and that people who move constantly arrive with the virus in their blood. As soon as a person who has visited a region where the virus exists arrives, we run the risk that an Aedes aegypti mosquito can bite it and transmit the disease to other people. That is why we must detect cases as early as possible to treat them on time and, in turn, do not spread to mosquitoes and other people who have not traveled. Thus we avoid native cases.
– What is the situation of the particular municipality?
Tigre is prepared to prevent and treat Dengue. We work together with the University of San Martín and monitor, together with biologists, the behavior of the mosquito during 2018 and 2019. In parallel, we raise awareness among the population through prevention campaigns, with measures to be taken at home, and in case of trips to countries with active viral transmission. Also, we train health professionals to have early and accurate diagnoses, and territorial agents.
In 2019 we created a Surveillance and Control Unit against Dengue, headed by biologists, because it is very important in front of the first notification of a person with a fever with a travel history, be prepared to go to the home, review the environment where they live and apply the necessary fumigation measures. Years ago we worked on the vector survey (mosquito). The team of biologists monitors the appearance or not of the mosquito; and in case of suspicious cases we implement focus blocking measures.
-According to a report from the Ministry of Health of the Province of Buenos Aires, there are supposedly 7 cases of Dengue in Tigre. Is this confirmed? How do they get to that figure?
Yes, in Tigre there are seven confirmed cases, all detected by the local health system. They are neighbors with a travel history, they are not native cases. It is important to point out the presence of an effective protocol that can be found with the affected party to treat and inform the higher levels of the State. Without these municipal tools, there is no data and the problem would become invisible, so we daily load into the national SISA data system every case that is suspicious to us; It is an obligation of us and of all health systems. In Tigre the health system is digitalized; We have online the results of studies of all suspicious patients. It is about monitoring the epidemic and thus reducing the risk of having secondary cases.
– How are cases treated?
As soon as the patient shows symptoms, we begin to act. Practically the treatment is outpatient, the patient is at home and is monitored at the Health Center. In the Maternal and Infant Hospital we have prepared beds for isolation, in case of being necessary the hospitalization of any child; and likewise at the Valentín Nores Hospital, with adults. We have our trained medical staff, although so far all cases have been outpatient; there were only two cases of hospitalization at the General Pacheco Provincial Hospital. It is important to note that it is a febrile, acute disease, which after seven days the patient recovers. That is why treatment is important during the first few days, that is, hydration, since there is no vaccine or medicine to fight it.
-What are the ways of contagion?
The disease is only transmitted if the mosquito bites the person during the first five days of illness. Once the fever goes down, the disease is not transmitted. Therefore, the objective of the fumigation is to take out all kinds of possibility to the mosquito around that person or family with fever.
-What are the most frequent symptoms and how should we act before them?
The symptoms are: high fever; decay; myalgia, that is, very strong muscle pain; arthralgia; retrocular pain; appearance of rashes (small skin rashes) from the fifth day; and abdominal pain Given these symptoms, it is essential to consult quickly at the nearest Health Center. There the professionals will make a laboratory analysis of the patient and then proceed to follow up the case. It is important to be well hydrated and not self-medicate, because there is medication that is contraindicated.
– Does fumigation work?
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recommends localized fumigation. Then, we only proceed to fumigate in the homes of patients who have the disease; so we prevent dengue from spreading. To the whole community we provide useful advice to apply in homes and prevent the reproduction of the Aedes aegypti mosquito; how to keep courtyards clean, get rid of obsolete objects that can accumulate water, such as drums, old tires, cans, bottles and vases. With half an hour per week that each neighbor dedicate to the hygiene of their patio, the doors are closed to the insect.
– Before a suspicious case, what is the protocol to be followed by the municipality’s health system?
The Dengue Surveillance and Control Unit immediately visits the patient’s home and makes a survey of the family, to verify that the patient is not the only one affected. The family is given insecticides and repellents and the fumigation company is immediately notified. These are blocking, focus and peripheral actions. The unit acts not only in the patient’s home, but also in the block, raising awareness and providing prevention advice. The main thing is to avoid during the first 5 days that the patient has contact with the adult mosquito. However, fumigation does not have a direct effect on the hatchery, so this double action is important and that the neighbor takes care of cleaning at home.
– What role should citizenship take? What are the prevention measures?
Again, we remember that the mosquito lives in domestic settings; That is why the most effective way to combat it is by eliminating its hatcheries, to prevent it from reproducing, because without mosquitoes there can be no transmission. It is important that the community dispose of any obsolete object that can accumulate water, and domestic water tanks must be sealed tightly. On the other hand, those traveling to other countries should be informed if there are cases of Dengue, Chikungunya or Zika; always use repellent and clothing that covers the body against mosquito bites; and be attentive to if they present any symptoms at the return of the trip.
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