Huila faces a public health crisis with six deaths from dengue until epidemiological week 17 of the year 2024. The health authorities of Huila intensify measures to contain the dengue outbreak, including surveillance, intervention and inter-institutional coordination actions to protect to the population.
Diario del Huila, Panorama
The department of Huila faces a health emergency situation due to the alarming increase in dengue cases, which has claimed the lives of six people until epidemiological week 17 of the year 2024. With a total of 16 registered mortality cases, the community is on high alert as authorities struggle to contain the spread of this mosquito-borne disease.
The magnitude of the outbreak becomes evident when examining the statistics: of the 14 cases analyzed, six have been confirmed, coming from municipalities such as Pitalito, Teruel, La Plata and Garzón. However, the situation is not limited to these places, since eight cases have been ruled out in towns such as Neiva, Isnos, Suaza, Tarqui, Elías and Pitalito, while one is still pending analysis.
In addition, it has been verified that a case from Pitalito has its origin in the department of Caquetá, which highlights the complexity and the need for a comprehensive and coordinated response.
Given these figures, Sergio Zúñiga, Secretary of Health of the department of Huila, recommended that Huila residents continue working on washing swimming pools with soap and chlorine and do it every 8 days. “We recommend covering overhead tanks, collecting unusable items or leaving vessels or elements that can collect water.”
The total number of dengue cases in Huila until epidemiological week 17 amounts to 11,270, covering various clinical presentations. 63.4% correspond to dengue without warning signs, 33.9% to dengue with warning signs and 2.5% to severe dengue. This distribution reflects the severity and diversity of the situation, which requires a response adapted to the specific needs of each case.
Patient management has been varied, with a focus on outpatient care for 88.3% of dengue cases without warning signs. Dengue fever with warning signs was 33.9%, of these 58.8% were hospitalized, 14.8% were managed under observation, 18.8% were referred to a higher level of complexity in which they were being treated.
For severe dengue, 301 cases were reported, of which 91.7% of the cases were managed in the ICU taking into account their severity, 6.6% reported referral behavior at a level of greater complexity, 1% of the cases were managed in a hospital manner and 0.7% presented behavioral errors.
Dengue behavior
The behavior of dengue in Huila at epidemiological week 17 of 2024, in all its clinical presentations, shows that the risk persists throughout the department.
The municipalities that remain on red alert due to the presence of type II outbreaks are Algeciras, Elías, Garzón, Gigante, Guadalupe, Neiva, Oporapa, Pitalito, Saladoblanco and San Agustín.
For their part, the municipalities with type I outbreaks are Acevedo, Agrado, Aipe, Altamira, Baraya, Campoalegre, Colombia, Hobo, Iquira, Isnos, La Argentina, La Plata, Paicol, Palermo, Palestine, Pital, Rivera, Santa María, Suaza, Tarqui, Tello, Teruel, Tesalia, Timaná, Villavieja and Yaguará.
Challenges
In addition to clinical challenges, the department faces data quality obstacles, as evidenced by poor conduct and classification in eight identified cases. These errors, although identified, require immediate attention to ensure effective and accurate management of the situation.
The panorama worsens when considering the endemic behavior of dengue in the region, which shows a hyperendemic increase with a new peak of cases between weeks 14 and 16. This sudden increase can be attributed to delays and adjustments in the date of onset of symptoms, which underlines the need for constant vigilance and an agile response by health authorities.
In response to this health crisis, interventions have been intensified from the Vector-Borne Diseases (VTE) program, entomological surveillance, laboratory surveillance and Epidemiological Surveillance.
However, close coordination is required between the Territorial Entities, the Benefit Plan Administration Entities (EAPB), the Health Providing Institutions (IPS) and the National University of Colombia to face this public health challenge.
Climatic factors and urbanization trigger dengue cases in America
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched an alert about the dramatic increase in dengue cases in the American continent.
The worrying escalation of this disease has placed Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina at the epicenter of the crisis, concentrating between the three 92% of the cases and 87% of the deaths. The increase in incidence in these countries is mainly attributed to the time of greatest transmission in the southern hemisphere, favored by optimal climatic conditions for the proliferation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, vector of the dengue virus.
Additionally, the presence of the mosquito and the disease has expanded to new areas, raising significant concerns about the preparedness of some countries to handle an increase in cases. The situation is even more alarming, given that a growing incidence is now reported in territories such as Barbados, Costa Rica, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Martinique and Mexico, regions where historically transmission intensifies in the second half of the year.
PAHO identifies various environmental and socioeconomic factors behind this dengue boom, including increased temperatures, extreme climate events and the El Niño phenomenon, in addition to rapid population growth and urbanization without adequate planning. These conditions, combined with poor water and sanitation management, encourage the creation of breeding sites for the mosquito.
recommendations
To prevent dengue, it is essential to eliminate water tanks that can serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, thus reducing their reproduction. To achieve this, a series of measures must be followed:
Regularly change the water in animal waterers and vases.
Cover containers that contain water and eliminate garbage accumulated in patios and outdoor areas, as well as get rid of tires or other objects that can store water in closed places.
Use repellents on exposed body areas and wear appropriate clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
Place mosquito nets or canopies on beds, especially when people are sick, to prevent mosquitoes from infecting other people.
Regularly wash and brush tanks and pools to eliminate possible mosquito breeding sites.
Collect garbage and solid waste in vacant lots and keep the environment clean, participating in community days to collect useless objects.
Wear long clothing that covers arms and legs, especially in areas where mosquitoes are present.
Apply repellent to both skin and clothing.
Use awnings to sleep and avoid mosquito bites at night.
It is important to pay attention to the symptoms of dengue, such as fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, rash, nausea, vomiting and bleeding, and see a doctor if these symptoms occur. In addition, any water reservoir, such as jars, bottles or lids, should be eliminated, as they are means for the reproduction of the mosquito that transmits dengue.
