In Antioquia 13 people have died this year from acute respiratory infections. Given the heavy rains that increased cases by 73% compared to 2023, Health authorities asked citizens to prevent.
The rains in Antioquia have caused what health authorities consider a peak in acute respiratory infections (ARI), with a 49% increase in deaths compared to 2023 and a 73% increase in the number of cases, affecting the most measure to children under 5 years of age and those over 60 years of age, so the recommendation is to take preventive measures.
This is one of the reasons why in Medellín there are 112% occupancy in adult emergencies and 90% in pediatric emergencies.
In the department, respiratory emergencies are congested, especially in Urabá, while municipalities such as San Jerónimo and Montebello reported a high proportion of care for this condition in outpatient consultations, with 53% and 50% respectively. Necoclí and Carepa recorded 100% of the cases treated in the ICU for this cause; and Mutatá and Angelópolis, 100% and 75% respectively in the hospitalization service.
Dora Raquel Arcia, Undersecretary of Public Health of Antioquia, gave an overview of these viruses in the department.
“The majority of the cases have occurred both in the Medellín metropolitan area and also, in the subregion of Eastern Antioquia, we have confirmed data of 13 people who died due to anger, basically they correspond to people who have been complicated by having some other underlying pathology,” he assured.
Carlos Valdivieso, president of the Medical College of Antioquia, recommended that parents of children under five years of age strengthen measures such as vaccination, hand washing and the use of face masks to prevent contagion to their children.
He also pointed out that it should be evaluated if management can be done at home, under medical recommendations.
“When it is a normal flu case whose fever subsides easily, with the use of acetaminophen without major complications, do not congest the emergency service by consulting but rather do the treatments that the pediatricians indicate the congestion in emergency services is important at this time in Antioquia,” he added.
Health authorities revealed that to date 77 cases of Unusual Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI-G) have been reported in the department, with the municipalities of Rionegro and Envigado being those of greater number of cases; Of the 13 deaths already recorded to date, 14% were adults over 60 years of age.
Compared to 2023, the department has recorded a notable increase in ARI consultations: an increase of 47% in outpatient consultations and emergencies, 108% in ICU, and 93% in hospitalizations. It is relevant to highlight that the most affected municipalities are located in the subregions of Valle de Aburrá and Oriente, which have a greater supply of hospitalization and ICU services.
