Santa Catarina is experiencing a moment of alarm regarding dengue fever. However, in Chapeco in the west of the state, despite a significant increase in mosquito outbreaks Aedes Aegypti in recent weeks, the number of positive cases has not followed the same upward trend.

In 2022, 49 dengue control attempts were made in Chapeco. – Photo: Chapeco City Hall/Disclosure/ND

The increase in confirmed cases in the largest city in the West was 13% in 15 days. As of February 27, the number of positive cases was 11 patients, according to a bulletin published by the Environmental Health Service. This Monday (13) the municipality reached 20 people with the disease.

The number of dengue mosquito outbreaks is up 41.6% more than 15 days ago. The most recent bulletin shows that the total number of outbreaks reported in 2023 is now 557. 369 cases have been ruled out and the rest are awaiting test results. So far in 2023, there have been no confirmed deaths from the disease, and no deaths under investigation.

Already in 2022, 10 deaths from dengue were recorded in Chapeco in a year. According to DIVE/SC (Santa Catarina Epidemiological Surveillance Authority), the number of deaths in the state reached 90 in 2022.

Karina Giacini, coordinator for environmental surveillance, notes that by March 2022, the municipality had already registered more than two thousand cases of dengue and two deaths. Until March 14 this year, the number of confirmed cases of the disease is 20.

“Last year, not only Chapeco, but also several municipalities in Santa Catarina and Brazil survived the dengue epidemic. This year we have a significant decrease in the incidence, but with an increase in the number of outbreaks. We are concerned that these 20 cases are spread over several districts of the municipality, which indicates that the transmission of the virus occurs in different parts of the city,” notes Karina.

According to the coordinator, the LIRAa (Express Review of Aedes aegypti Indices) conducted last week in Chapeco shows that the municipality is at high risk of infection.

“During the same period last year, we had fewer outbreaks, but since we were in an epidemic situation, we did not conduct an infection survey to find out what the risk was, since we were already experiencing an epidemic,” he said. Comments.

There were fewer positive cases in Chapeco compared to 2022 – Photo: Chapeco City Hall/Disclosure/ND

Karina believes that the decline in the number of positive cases in Chapeco is due to the climate situation, since the winter of 2022 was severe, and cold weather was recorded until November. In addition, she mentions the cyclicity of the epidemic period in the history of the disease.

“In 2022, we also had a difference in joint efforts to combat dengue mosquitoes. From March 2022 until the end of the year, endemic disease control agents carried out 49 joint activities to eliminate breeding sites and treat deposits with larvicides to reduce the spread and transmission of cases. We also carry out a number of other activities focused on education and health, inspection of drones with sanitary supervision, and work to clean up vacant lots,” he adds.

Santa Catarina investigates death

Santa Catarina is investigating three deaths from suspected dengue amid high alert for the disease. There are two cases in Palos, in Greater Florianopolis, a 70-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman, and one case in Blumenau in a 69-year-old man.

Dive/SC advised that there is no set timeframe for collecting all information about care provided by the health services, as the data must be evaluated by professionals from the municipal and state oversight team.

However, the agency says it “should take as little time as possible” to confirm or rule out a cause of death. A very high disease risk warning was issued by the State Civil Defense on Saturday (11).

The state has confirmed one death from dengue. The victim was a 34-year-old woman from the Trindade district in Florianopolis.

More than 1,300 cases have already been confirmed in Santa Catarina, according to the latest survey published by Dive before March 4. To date, 2437 cases are under investigation.

Compared to the same period in 2022, when 2,759 cases of dengue fever were confirmed in the state, the number of confirmed cases decreased by 52%. At that time, 1,330 cases of dengue were reported in Santa Catarina.