There are already seven deaths and 9,300 cases detected

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The Ministry of Health of the Province of Córdoba reported that in this last week 3,754 new cases of dengue and six of chikungunya were added. And so far in the 2024 season, there are already 9,316 total cases of dengue reported and 8,774 of them are indigenous. And the deaths amount to seven, two more than in the last reported week. In the last 7 days, confirmed cases grew by 67 percent.

Furthermore, in data that shows the acceleration in the circulation of the virus, 92.6% (8,622) of these notifications were registered in the last five epidemiological weeks.

In this regard, Laura López, Undersecretary of Health Strategies and Access to Health, highlighted that the first level of care, at this stage of the outbreak, has a fundamental role.

For this reason, “we are working together with the municipalities to strengthen timely detection, monitoring and referral of appropriate cases. At the same time, the second and third levels are reinforced in the care of patients who present alarming or serious signs or symptoms,” the official stated.

The insistence has to do with the problem that arises in large provincial public hospitals, where the bottleneck due to high demand generates delays in care of several hours.

“In any primary health care center there are qualified personnel to make an adequate diagnosis and provide treatment according to this disease,” said Carlos Giordana, provincial Health Secretary.

In relation to geographical distribution, the latest report highlights that in 201 locations at least one case has been reported so far this season. It is just under half of the municipalities and communes of the province, which already speaks of a strong deployment of the epidemic in the territory. The cities that registered more than 100 autochthonous cases are: Córdoba (4,768), Arroyito (526), ​​Brinkmann (355), Villa María (323), Las Varillas (320), San Francisco (316), Devoto (246), Bell Ville (193), Villa del Rosario (153), Luque (149), La Calera (146) and Villa Carlos Paz (120).

Most patients were treated on an outpatient basis, and 4.7% (436) required hospitalization. And the most frequent symptoms were: fever, muscle pain in the joints and headache.

Regarding chikungunya, 25 cases were registered, 20 indigenous and five imported. While to date only one case of co-infection with both viruses has been recorded.

Dengue in Córdoba: how many deaths have been reported so far

So far this season, there are already seven deaths in the province of Córdoba from this disease. This week two new deaths were added compared to last week.

Regarding the place of residence, three are from Capital, two from General San Martín, one from Juárez Celman and one from San Justo. Five of them had comorbidities.

“He died waiting in the guard”

A man sick with dengue died waiting for care at a provincial public hospital, according to what the family reported on Radio Miter Córdoba.

Omar Cebrero, 71, literally died in the waiting room at the Ferreyra Hospital, after three hours of waiting. The family had accompanied him because he was very deteriorating from the illness. Adriana, the victim’s sister-in-law, said they were shocked because “he didn’t die, they let him die.”

According to his story, they took him to the hospital around 3 p.m. this Wednesday, he waited three hours for care and had a heart attack.

“He had his first symptoms the day before yesterday, with severe body pain. My sister and my nephew bring him to Ferreyra at 3pm, a day later. They were on guard for 3 hours. The fever was terrible, he started to get cold and his head collapsed. “He lost consciousness,” the woman said.

He collapsed on the same guard. He “had a heart attack and they did appear there to revive him. The nurse said that if he survived he had little chance of becoming well. When he entered therapy he died, his death was reported at 8:20. They say it was due to another massive heart attack,” said the family member.

The man had psoriasis, but no other comorbidities.

Dengue in Córdoba: the importance of early consultation

The Ministry of Health continues to insist that, in the presence of symptoms compatible with this disease, it is necessary to go to the nearest health center as soon as possible, both in the capital and in the interior. The problem is the bottleneck that is created in hospital guards. But for that, they say, you have to go to the primary care centers located in the neighborhoods.

In the city of Córdoba, there are more than 100 health centers distributed in different neighborhoods, plus the four directorates of Medical Specialties that can provide timely care and make a referral to a more complex center if necessary, they recalled from the Municipality of Córdoba.

Likewise, the province has 16 Primary Health Care Centers (CAPS) in the city where you can go for an early consultation for this disease.

All provincial and municipal hospitals in the capital and the interior are reference centers, but at this stage of the epidemic it is intended that they act to refer cases that have alarming signs or symptoms or serious conditions.

Symptoms and prevention