Dengue, a silent enemy lurking
- Written by Maylín Betancourt Verdecia
- Published in Health
- Hits: 41
For more than a decade, dengue has been the predominant arbovirus infection, with the highest incidence in the Americas, Cuba, and especially Holguin. It is so much so that it occupies the main epidemiological stage in this northeastern territory for almost the entire year.
The transmitting agent of this acute infection, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is a familiar face. For this reason, and in light of the recent celebration of World Dengue Day. It is important to know how to prevent its four serotypes, all of which can be potentially fatal. Especially those that lead to severe forms and, consequently, the dreaded dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Although contracting a dengue serotype creates a certain immunity for a few months, it is possible for the same person to develop the disease four times in a relatively short period of time. Provided it is a different strain of the virus. This seems to indicate that each time a person is exposed to the virus. They run the risk of experiencing greater complications and morbidity.
Given the risks that dengue poses to our health and its increasingly widespread presence in tropical regions like ours. The health system has established, as part of its action protocols, close surveillance of cases and febrile syndromes, monitoring the most significant causes of the increase in infestation rates in the different municipalities of Holguin, and attempting to control the populations of transmitting mosquitoes.
Furthermore, many dengue patients present no symptoms or only mild discomfort, which makes identification difficult and allows the virus to spread without people being aware of their infection. The presence of the transmitting agent in both urban and suburban áreas. Coupled with its ability to reproduce in small volumes of water, whether puddles or unused containers, means it can easily spread in family and community settings.
Despite the danger posed by this disease, many are not fully aware of the risks associated with dengue or how to prevent it. At this point, the concern of many Holguin residents about the number of mosquitoes observed in recent months, both inside and outside homes, is valid.
This is also true of the reduction in fumigation cycles and personnel for the anti-vector campaign. These actions have been reduced over time. Along with the resources needed to accomplish this goal, to the point where they are almost imperceptible to society.
So, if we know how Aedes mosquitoes have adapted to our environment and how to eliminate them. Why not sustain the actions that, in the recent past, contributed to bringing infestation rates down to permissible levels?
Yes, it’s true that the dangerous vector has colonized our environment. But it has also taken advantage of human gaps to plant its flag and perpetuate the species.
If everyone does their part in individual and collective hygiene, I hope one day to be able to talk about positive results like those achieved after the dengue hemorrhagic fever epidemic in 1981. When health measures kept the disease away from our environment for almost two decades.
Dengue fever undoubtedly represents a significant public health challenge. Its impact can be devastating and often unexpected. As we become more aware of the danger we face, we will be better able to combat this silent enemy. (Source : Radio Angulo)
