Bolivia’s government has asked the United Nations (UN) for help in tackling the dengue virus epidemic affecting the country, an official from the UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) told news agency BNamericas. Departments Santa Cruz [5,951 confirmed cases], Cochabamba, Beni, Chuquisaca, La Paz, Pando, Tarija, Oruro and Potosí have all been affected by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which carries the virus that has claimed the lives of seven people.

UN officials have contacted authorities to support emergency measures that include cleaning up towns and city roads, and eliminating stagnant bodies of water, where the mosquito reproduces and grows. Local municipalities are coordinating works with the health ministry. A US$ 1.2 million (€ 950,000) budget has been reserved to combat the illness and the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) has provided US$ 1.1 million (€ 870,000) to cover the cost of a health campaign.

One of the causes of the epidemic is drought, as it leads people to store rainwater and thus contributes to an increase in the amount of stagnant water. The expansion of potable water networks is key in the fight against dengue, as it would prevent inhabitants from having to store water.

Related news:

• Dengue control: septic tanks in Puerto Rico discovered as breeding sites for mosquitoes, Source Weekly, 12 Jun 2008
• Los peces “Guppyes” acaban con los portadores del dengue [(in Spanish]: Boletín de Noticias, 01 April 2008

Related website: WHO - Dengue

Related publication: Parks, W. and Lloyd, L. (2004). Planning social mobilization and communication for dengue fever prevention and control: a step-by-step guide. Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Organization. Download

Source: Eva Medalla, BNamericas [subscription site], 04 Feb 2009

Tags: latin america & caribbean, water-related diseases