The tough days of the dengue season are here.
Rainy days allow Aedes aegypti mosquito reproduction and, as consequence, infections increase. On this edition we include basic recommendations to help lower infection risk in your accommodation or business.
2024 has been a year with higher than-usual levels of transmission of the dengue virus. If you have not acted, do so now.
The Department of Health declared a public health emergency for dengue in March of this year. The days between July and December are considered the high transmission period for the virus in Puerto Rico. According to the Weekly Dengue Surveillance Report, between January 1 and August 11 of this year, 2,704 cases of dengue had been reported.
Here are some basic recommendations:
Dengue virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This species is most active in the early morning hours and near dusk. Mosquitoes need standing water to reproduce, so eliminating breeding sites is one of the most common measures to reduce the mosquito population and, therefore, the vectors of the dengue virus.
There are four types of dengue (DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, and DEN4), so a person can be infected with this disease up to four times. Symptoms include high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and rash. Symptoms usually last between two and seven days. In some cases, however, symptoms may be more severe and require hospital care.
Inspect your property at least once a week.
Currently, the Vector Control Unit of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust offers workshops and training on how to prevent dengue. These workshops are available for hotels, churches, museums, schools and other entities.
Read more:
Informe Semanal Enfermedades Arbovirales (pr.gov)