By Kelly Simmons, Managing Editor and Senior Writer
The mosquito that is a carrier of the disease dengue fever has been detected in 3 out of 10 homes in selected colonias in the border state of Chihuahua, according to Cesar Ponce, the Chief of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine with the state Secretary of Health. The insect has been detected in seven colonias in the capital city and twelve in Ciudad Juarez after a thorough search by health officials. It is estimated by the Health Department that 35 percent of the community living in the affected colonias in Cd. Chihuahua could contract the disease, if it were present in the local mosquito population.
The increased risk of dengue fever has been blamed on record rains throughout the region over the past two months. The rains have exacerbated conditions under which the virus spreads. At this point, the Health Department has not received any reports of cases of dengue fever, nor have any mosquitos been found who have been infected with the disease, but efforts to eradicate the carrier have begun.
The mosquito, Aedes Aegyptes, is a small black and white insect with stripes on its torso and legs. It carries two types of dengue fever: classic dengue and hemorragic dengue. This mosquito, like others, breeds in rain puddles and standing water that collects inside automobile tires, flower pots, and refuse. It rests inside homes, closed buildings, and other dark places such as dairy barns, sinks, tubs, and abandoned structures.
Dengue fever is caused by a virus and is carried and spread by the mosquito after it bites someone with the disease, much like malaria is spread. Symptoms of dengue fever include feeling tired, fever, headache, muscle aches, red spots on the skin and pain behind the eyes. There is no vaccination or preventive medicines for dengue fever, but the disease can be treated with antibiotics. Hemorrhagic dengue is the most dangerous causing heavy nose bleeds and severe arthritic pain. Both forms of dengue fever can be fatal if not treated.
The Health Department has asked 13 municipalities throughout Chihuahua to establish extra measures in basic sanitation in order to eliminate the insect. The municipalities on alert are Ciudad Juarez, Jimenez, Delicias, Chemurgy, Meoqui, Villa Ahumada, Guadalupe, Morelos, Moris, Urique, Chipinas and Cd. Chihuahua. Health officials will be working to establish the necessary precautions with each of the municipalities considered high risk. In addition, medical institutions, doctors and paramedics are being prepared for recognizing and treating the disease. Efforts to control the disease are centering on eliminating habitat for breeding and educating the public about the disease, the mosquito and its breeding habitats.
According to an FNS interview with Dr. Jorge Magaña, Director of the El Paso City/County Health and Environment District, officials on the U.S. side of the border are in frequent contact with health officials in Chihuahua and are aware of the increase in mosquito population. Tests of mosquitos on the U.S. side have found none infected with the virus and eradication campaigns are underway. In addition, Dr. Magana stressed that the change in weather will do the most in wiping out the mosquito population, dramatically decreasing the risk of an infected mosquito transmitting the virus to humans.
At the national level, Mexico has reported an increase of 32 percent for hemorrhagic dengue fever in 1996 over 1995. In 1995 355 cases were reported. Classic dengue fever was the cause of 11,604 deaths last year throughout Mexico.
Sources: Diario de Juarez, El Norte, El Paso City/County Health District