The municipality of Chapeco in the west of Santa Catarina is under the threat of mosquito infestation. Aedes aegypti and for viral transmission of dengue, cases have been reported in several areas. The information was released by the Municipal Environmental Supervision Authority this Thursday (16).

Chapeco is experiencing a moment of anxiety due to an Aedes aegypti mosquito infestation. – Photo: Chapeco City Hall/Disclosure/ND

“Last year we had an epidemic of the disease with cases of type I dengue, now in 2023 we have cases of type II dengue. We may have more patients, their health is deteriorating. We need to be vigilant,” explains Carina Gianchini, coordinator of Chapecó’s environmental department.

The data was collected during the LIRAa (Rapid Index Survey of Aedes aegypti) surveys conducted by teams from the Chapeco Department of Health between March 6 and 10. For five days, 3605 objects were visited in 48 districts of the city. The study indicated an overall infestation considered high risk (>3.9%) with an overall IIP (Building Infestation Index) for the municipality of 8.3%.

According to the documents of the Ministry of Health, an IIP of 1% is the limit for the circulation of the virus, that is, Chapecó infection is more than eight times the reference value.

The 2023 indicator (8.3%) showed a decrease compared to the survey conducted in the same period in 2021 (9.5%). In March 2022, sampling activities were not carried out, as the municipality was already in the situation of an epidemic of the disease.

Hearths and surroundings

According to environmental surveillance, 378 outbreaks were registered in 42 districts of the city in 2023, and all selected layers showed a high risk of infection. This result shows that the infestation is homogeneous throughout the city. It also confirms the state of the infected municipality with a high risk index and that the infestation predominates in sediments such as mobile sediments (36.2%), garbage (35.2%) and cisterns (11.9%).

“This result is due to the higher temperatures of this period, favorable for the development of the insect, as well as the rains in January and February, which provided breeding sites. This reality also explains the cases of dengue reported since the beginning of the year and points to an alarming scenario, especially in the next 70 days,” Karina explained.

Mosquito outbreaks have been found in several areas. – Photo: Chapeco City Hall/Disclosure/ND

Home visits by endemic disease agents are meant to inform and guide the community in taking measures to prevent and control mosquitoes in their homes and workplaces, as well as identify, eliminate mosquito breeding sites and treat, Chapeco Health Minister Jader Danielli said.

“These actions, however, are ineffective if the population is not mobilized for the continuous and autonomous implementation of the prevention and elimination of breeding sites for mosquito vectors. Everyone must do their part to prevent further spread,” he concluded.

situation room

The data was presented to representatives of organizations, universities, the board of health, slaughterhouses and schools, at a meeting with the teams of the Chapeco City Hall, at the Situation Room meeting organized by the teams of the Minister of Health this Thursday (16 ), in the assembly hall of the Chapeco City Hall.

The purpose of the Situation Room is to discuss, implement, consider and plan mosquito control strategies. Aedes aegyptiin order to control cases of the disease and eliminate possible foci of reproduction.

Dengue in Chapeco

Despite a significant increase in mosquito outbreaks Aedes aegypti in recent weeks, the number of positive cases has not followed the same upward trend.

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. On 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.