Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) – The Church in Argentina is playing an active role in the fight against the dengue epidemic that has swept across the nation and has infected 2,270 persons already. Through Caritas Argentina, an initiative has been launched to collect mosquito repellent for the areas affected.
The epidemic-level outbreak has had its “epicenter” in Tartagal, Salta, where flooding devastated a large part of the city and affected hundreds of thousands of people, however it has now extended and could continue spreading, experts say. Facing serious sanitary problems, especially for the cases of dengue, some of them haemorrhagic, Caritas and the Health Pastoral Care Office are trying to distribute drinking water to homes and to those in the hospital.
According to the National Director of Disease Risk and Prevention, it seems to be “an unusual increase in cases.” In Charata alone, there are 3,000 cases under study, in a population of 60,000 people, 300 of which have been confirmed. In Salta, there are 986 cases registered. In spite of efforts, two have died in the province, from haemorrhagic dengue. Catamarca is another of the provinces affected, in which there are 47 confirmed cases. The Director of the Hospital “San Juan Bautista” said that they are overflowing with patients and attend 80 per day. In Jujuy, there are already 217 cases. There are 200 cases confirmed in the rest of the country. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 27/3/2009)
