With rising temperatures and rainfall, the population once again faces the threat of dengue fever spreading rapidly this season. According to the Ministry of Health, until December 22, 2024, 280,726 cases and 262 deaths from this endemic disease.
And in the first in the week of 2025, 1313 cases were registered at the national level. Based on this disturbing panorama, specialists warn about the presence in Lima of dengue serotype 3, known for its greater aggressiveness and danger to people’s health.
This was confirmed by Cristian Díaz Vélez, general director of Strategic Interventions in Public Health at Minsa, who told La República that the regions most affected by dengue are Loreto, San Martín, Piura, Junín and Cusco.
In this regard, he explained that the vaccination of children between the ages of 10 and 16 has started in four regions: Ucayali, Loreto, Piura and Tumbes. To date, progress has been made with approximately 52,384 children vaccinated. “We are evaluating the possibility of expanding this vaccination nationwide and in a wider age range.”
Vaccination of children from 10 to 16 years old has begun in four regions of Peru. Photo: LR
To prevent the spread of dengue-transmitting mosquitoes, Díaz explained that epidemiological control surveillance is being carried out in each region, larval control where inspectors carry out home interventions, home fumigation and the use of an application that geolocates and identifies realistically. houses of the time with mosquito breeding places.
Aggressive variant in Lima
Meanwhile, Essalud has warned of the return of dengue serotype 3, a very dangerous variant of the virus. This serotype has already been detected in several districts of Lima, such as Barranco, Chorrillos and Miraflores.
It is distinguished by causing more severe symptoms and a higher risk of serious complications, such as high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and skin rash. In the most critical cases, it can cause complications such as fluid leakage affecting vital organs, which significantly increases the risk of mortality, especially in vulnerable people. Based on this scenario, Díaz recommended covering containers containing water, using repellent and protective clothing.
Sources of infection
Essalud indicates that during the hot season the risk of infection increases due to the spread of the transmitting mosquito (Aedes aegypti), which finds breeding grounds in spaces such as parks and swimming pools if the appropriate preventive measures are not taken, such as the use of repellent. The first symptoms are high fever, headache and muscle pain.
