s arrival Otis Ten days ago, it brought utter devastation to Acapulco and other cities in Guerrero state. In the first days of the tragedy, approximately one million people survived without drinking water, electricity and little food. Aid continues to arrive sporadically, making it difficult for people to escape the disaster. At least 47 people have died and 59 are missing, but that number is likely to increase as rescue efforts continue.
Adding to this is a new threat, with scientists and health experts warning that other possible consequences of the cyclone is an increase in dengue fever and other diseases related to stagnant water, lack of sanitation and lack of drinking water. So far, Guerrero is not one of the entities with the highest number of cases, but this may change in the coming weeks. Sofía Sánchez Piña, a researcher at the School of Nursing at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said: “We hope that in the midst of this environmental disaster, with 100 new cases a day, this alarming increase should make it possible for the most vulnerable populations to Stay alert.”
Guerrero has 1,855 confirmed cases so far, an increase of more than 50% from the 630 positive cases in the same period last year. “Mosquitoes don’t breed in salt water, but hurricanes bring a lot of fresh water and allow them to hatch. In the next few weeks, we hope that the number of cases will start to increase,” the scientist said.
Dengue virus infections have surged in Mexico this year. Both the number of positive cases and deaths are triple what was recorded in the same week last year. There have been more than 40,145 confirmed cases this year, and 9,143 confirmed cases in 2022. The most affected states so far are Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Veracruz, although other states have also seen significant increases in their statistics. These include the states of Morelos, Guerrero, Puebla, Chiapas, Oaxaca and Campeche.
High temperatures, tropical rains and stagnant reservoirs caused by climate change often provide the perfect ecosystem for the mosquitoes that spread the disease to breed, preying on the most vulnerable: children and the elderly. “The climate in Guerrero is conducive to the breeding of mosquitoes. To this we must add that people are more exposed to the virus than before: they have no houses or are very unstable, floods are frequent and, due to hurricanes, they have no windows or mosquito nets to Protect yourself,” he said. expert.
Dr. Sanchez Pina believes that the government should issue epidemiological alerts not only for dengue fever, but also for other infectious diseases such as hepatitis, typhoid, and salmonella caused by water and food contamination. “This is a period of serious environmental pollution because not many bodies are being rescued, which leads to the proliferation of viruses, bacteria, salmonella and can lead to hepatitis, especially for those with skin lesions. Health authorities do not have this epidemic Pathological horizons, I find that very concerning,” he commented. Doctors explain that a lack of drinking water can lead to intestinal infections, dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting and fever.
Climate change is not only affecting increasingly severe hurricanes in the Pacific, it is also causing temperatures to rise, putting diseases at risk of spreading. “This factor once again makes us vigilant about infectious diseases that are already under control. Climate disasters such as Otis “They should keep us alert and resume all preventive medicine,” the expert said. Doctors suggested that a direct vaccination campaign should be carried out in parallel with Acapulco’s reconstruction and economic recovery. “While caring for those affected is difficult, this can be supported through tetanus and hepatitis vaccinations to encourage the production of antibodies and, to some extent, support immunity in the population,” he maintained.
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