More than 50K dengue cases recorded in Peru since 2019: UN report

By Teddy Cambosa

The South American nation of Peru has recorded around 56,400 cases as of December last year, to which the United Nations describes as ‘an epidemic within the pandemic’.

Image/CDC

According to the official press wire from the United Nations, Peru is suffering the worst dengue epidemic since 2017, when the virus infected over 68,000 people. The dengue epidemic has left thousands of people exposed to malnutrition and water-borne diseases, as the COVID-19 pandemic affects the country as well.

“Dengue has become endemic to many regions in Peru whereas before it was mostly found in the tropical ecosystem areas. It’s normal to find dengue near the Amazon, but now we can find it in desert-type areas. It should be easier to control dengue, but it’s difficult to control urbanization,” a researcher for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington DC said.

The researcher also pointed out the aforementioned statement in regards to the rapid urbanization plans in the Peruvian regions of Madre de Dios, Loreto, Ucayali, and San Martin, among others.

Aedes aegypti mosquito merchandise

Government forces have been vigilant in combating the country’s dengue outbreak by sending the armed forces to fumigate people’s houses and kill the larvae while issuing recommendations to avoid the virus. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the government declared dengue a health emergency, ramping up the resources dedicated to fighting off the virus. By the time the coronavirus pandemic hit Peru, dengue had spread to 17 regions, including Junin and Ica.

Teddy Cambosa is a graduating BS Biology student and a former campus journalist at Batangas State University. He is also currently writing for MARKETECH APAC, a small APAC-focused marketing news site.

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