Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: So far in 2023, Bolivia has recorded 26 deaths from dengue fever, as a result of which the health system in the country’s eastern Santa Cruz region is on the brink of collapse, the government said on Wednesday.
The Bolivian health ministry stated that the total number of dengue cases in Bolivia has topped 6,825 along with 26 fatalities.
Santa Cruz, the most populous region in the South American country, has the bulk of the cases which number 5,225.
In recent days, the case log has increased sharply in Santa Cruz thus ramping up pressure on hospitals.
Milka Caceres, the emergency chief at the Mario Ortiz children’s hospital, speaking to Red Uno television station said that one wants to check a hospital patient and another even more serious case arrives. The hospital lacks hands or staff, the 12 beds are full.
Caceres added that they were facing a critical situation.
The panic started at the week’s start when the parents of 3 babies aged between 1 and 5 months, reported they had died due to dengue symptoms but were unable to access the hospital because of the non-availability of space.
Fumigation initiative in Santa Cruz against dengue fever
On Sunday, the government started a major fumigation initiative in Santa Cruz, which has a population of 1.9 million people, in order to tackle the rising cases.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease that can have symptoms including headache, vomiting, high fever, and muscle and joint pain.
In its worst cases, it can lead to death.
In all of last year, Bolivia registered 4,362 dengue cases and 10 deaths.
