CONTACT:
In Atlanta: Allen Clinton, 404-979-9206;clinton@care.org

ATLANTA (October 4, 2000) -- Responding to a fourfold increase in dengue fever in El Salvador, CARE teams are working with local emergency committees to eradicate the dengue mosquito and with medical personnel to improve the ability to treat patients.

This year, 2,273 cases of classic dengue and 70 cases of hemorrhagic dengue have been confirmed in El Salvador. In 1999, there were 556 cases of classic dengue and 70 cases of hemorrhagic dengue in the country.

Dengue fever is a viral disease caused by one of four closely related viruses that is transmitted from person to person by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Classic dengue fever is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, headache, intense body pain and a rash.

Hemorrhagic dengue may occur in people who have been infected with one strain of dengue virus and are subsequently infected by a different strain that begins with high fever, abdominal pain and vomiting. The most severe untreated cases can progress to spontaneous bleeding from the nose and gums, shock and death. There is no therapeutic cure or vaccine currently available against the disease.

The National Children's Hospital Benjamin Bloom in the capital, San Salvador, recently has been averaging a weekly total of 163 dengue cases. For September, the hospital suspected 361 cases to be hemorrhagic. The cases are predominately found in children under 5. The Ministry of Health also confirmed that 30 children were killed by dengue shock syndrome.

The chief resident at Hospital Bloom stated that the daily admittance to the hospital increased from 15 patients to 63, underscoring the need to increase the hospital's capacity is critical if every case is to be attended.

"The highest percentage of dengue cases (82.5 percent) is found in urban areas where household water storage is common and where solid waste disposal services are inadequate," said Rafael Callejas, CARE director in El Salvador. "Because of CARE's experience in El Salvador, we were able to collaborate with the government and quickly mobilize this joint effort to exterminate larvae hatcheries and eliminate the adult vector.

"Still, much help is needed to organize community health committees to teach health education and how to deal with these types of outbreaks, and help communities gain access to proper water and sanitation systems," said Callejas. "That's how CARE helps in the long run."

Salvadoran President Francisco Flores declared a national emergency Sept. 12 after high levels of larvae infestation were reported and cases in children rose substantially. Red alerts have been declared by the Ministry of Health in six departments: San Salvador, Sonsonate, San Vicente, Ahuachapán, La Libertad and La Paz.

CARE began work in El Salvador in 1956. Today, rural water supply and sanitation construction and rehabilitation, primary health care, agricultural development and community organization are priority programming areas for CARE in El Salvador.