The arrival of Otis 10 days ago brought utter devastation to Acapulco and other communities of Guerrero. Around a million people had to survive without drinking water, without electricity and with very little food in the first days of the tragedy. The aid that is still arriving selectively is making it more difficult for the population to escape this catastrophe. At least 47 people have died and another 59 are missing, but that number is likely to rise as rescue efforts continue.
Added to this is a new threat. Scientists and health experts warn that the hurricane may have other consequences, namely an increase in dengue fever and other diseases associated with stagnant water, poor sanitation and a lack of drinking water. So far, the state of Guerrero has not been among the areas with the most cases, but that could change in the coming weeks. “We hope that with this environmental disaster we can have 100 more cases per day, an alarming increase that should put the most vulnerable population on alert,” says Sofía Sánchez Piña, researcher at the Faculty of Nursing at UNAM.
To date, there are 1,855 confirmed cases in Guerrero, an increase of more than 50% compared to cases in the same period last year, when 630 positive cases were registered. “The mosquito does not reproduce in salt water, but the hurricane brought a lot of fresh water and allowed for a breeding season. “We hope that there will be an increase in cases in the coming weeks,” says the scientist.
Dengue virus infections have skyrocketed in Mexico this year. Both positive cases and deaths triple the numbers recorded through the same week last year. More than 40,145 cases this year compared to 9,143 confirmed cases in 2022. The most affected states so far are Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Veracruz, although there are other states that are also recording a significant increase in the statistics. These include Morelos, Guerrero, Puebla, Chiapas, Oaxaca and Campeche.
High temperatures due to climate change, the tropical rainy season and the accumulation of water in reservoirs tend to be the perfect ecosystem for the reproduction of the mosquitoes that transmit this disease and those most at risk: children and the elderly. . “Guerrero has a climate that favors the production of mosquitoes. In addition, the population is more exposed to the virus than before: they have no houses or are very precarious, there is a lot of flooding and because of the hurricane there are no windows or mosquito nets to protect themselves,” he says the specialist.
Dr. Sánchez Piña believes that the government should declare an epidemiological alert not only for dengue, but also for other infectious diseases such as hepatitis, typhoid and salmonella due to contaminated water and food. “It is a time of great pollution, as not many bodies have been saved, which leads to the spread of viruses, bacteria and salmonella and can cause hepatitis, especially in people with skin lesions.” Health authorities do not have this epidemiological vision and I find it very worrying “, he notices. The doctor explains that the lack of drinking water causes intestinal infections, dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting and fever.
Climate change is not only affecting the existence of increasingly devastating hurricanes in the Pacific, it is also bringing with it rising temperatures that threaten the spread of disease. “It is a factor that puts us on alert again when it comes to communicable infections that have been under control. “Climate disasters like Otis should put us on alert to return to everything that is preventative medicine,” says the expert. The doctor recommends that a direct vaccination campaign be carried out in parallel with the reconstruction of Acapulco and the economic recovery. “Although it is difficult to care for those affected, one could support them with tetanus and hepatitis vaccinations to promote the production of antibodies and in some way support the immunity of the population,” he claims.
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