The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) will deliver 80,000 insect repellents and 40,000 mosquito nets to communities with the highest number of dengue cases.

By Ángela Ávalos Rodríquez

The distribution of these products will take place throughout this year, as announced by Esteban Vega de la O, Logistics Manager of CCSS. The distribution will commence based on the impact of the dengue virus, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

In March alone, 25,757 repellents and 13,395 mosquito nets have been distributed as part of prevention education strategies in communities most affected by the increasing dengue cases in the national territory.

CCSS will invest ¢332.5 million in these two products, as reported by Vega de la O.

In 2023, several communities, including Nicoya, Liberia, Pérez Zeledón, and Golfito, received this dengue prevention package. Last year, CCSS invested over ¢317 million in 73,600 repellents and 39,057 mosquito nets.

According to the latest epidemiological bulletin from the Ministry of Health, released on March 8, there were 5,978 dengue cases in the country until epidemiological week 8, which ended on February 24. 34% of the total cases were reported in the province of Alajuela.

The five cantons with the highest number of dengue cases are Alajuela, Puntarenas, San Carlos, San José, and Buenos Aires.

CCSS reports 63 patients hospitalized due to dengue in February and early March, as informed by the Ministry of Health.

The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) plans to deliver approximately 80,000 insect repellents and 40,000 mosquito nets in 2024 as part of the dengue control strategy in the most affected areas of the country.

The increase in dengue cases has prompted the Ministry of Health to change its strategy to strengthen care in the most affected areas. Health has formed two teams with 25 officials from the Vector Control Program. One team will focus on Alajuela, and the other on San José, provinces with higher incidence and, therefore, a higher circulation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

According to the Ministry of Health, there are three reasons for the increase in dengue cases:

1. Circulation of all four serotypes of the virus in the national territory.
2. Limited population immunity to serotype 4.
3. Delay in the onset of the rainy season in 2023, extending the risk of mosquito breeding sites.

This virus does not spread from person to person; it requires a vector: the female Aedes aegypti mosquito.

If a female of this mosquito bites a person with dengue, the pathogen will develop in the insect’s body. Days later, it will carry the virus and can transmit it to individuals it bites.

After that, all the eggs the female lays will inherit the virus. Any container, regardless of its size, that holds clean water can be suitable for the mosquito to lay eggs, usually on the container’s edge. Once the eggs touch the water, they develop into larvae.

Hence, eliminating breeding sites is vital. It is also recommended to use repellent to avoid mosquito bites.

It is essential to be vigilant for signs of alarm that could lead to complications:

1. Intense abdominal pain that does not subside.
2. Persistent vomiting.
3. Bleeding in the mucous membranes.
4. Gums bleed when brushing teeth.
5. Alteration of consciousness.

-News from the newspaper La Nacion-
https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/salud/comunidades-mas-afectadas-por-dengue-recibiran/CPDPFRM3CFAQ3J73RNFY7Z3W3I/story/