MSF teams in El Salvador have started for a dengue control project
and case management support in the three departments worst-hit by the
current dengue epidemic, which has been declared a national
emergency.
Although dengue is endemic in El Salvador, an unusually
high fatality rate (12%), and a five-fold increase in mosquito numbers,
has caused concern that the epidemic will spread. So far 2,800 people
have been diagnosed with dengue fever. 280 of these people have
haemorrhagic dengue fever, which has already killed 33 people. Most of
the fatalities were children.
The MSF project will work alongside teams of entomologists to
investigate the aedes vector; the mosquito which spreads the
disease. Meanwhile health workers are being trained to go from house
to house, killing mosquitoes with fumigation, using advice from Cuban
experts.
Instructors will work to stimulate public support for vector control
and raise awareness of the benefits of early detection, as well as referral of suspect cases to health centres.
In addition, rubbish collection teams will gather
old tires and tin cans, which serve as breeding grounds for the mosquitoes.
In addition, MSF expat medical personnel have started
assessing case management in local health centres and hospitals.
This type of project is new for MSF but potentially important because
dengue in the Americas is considered the most debilitating
mosquito-born disease and a high risk factor in public health.
Another concern is the potential return of yellow fever which is
transmitted by the same vector.
More from MSF
MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES - Rue de Lausanne 78 - CP 116 - 1211 - Geneva 21 - SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 (22) 849.84.00 - Fax: +41 (22) 849.84.04 CONTACT MSF
