infection level acute gastroenteritis According to the epidemiological report of the Institute of Public and Occupational Health of Navarra (ISPLN) for the week of September 18-24, acute cases in the autonomous community remain high, with 250 cases detected in primary care facilities last week.
Although the pathogens are diverse, cryptosporidiosis has predominated since August, with 263 new confirmed cases.Number of confirmed cases cryptosporidiosis Although most cases began showing symptoms a week or two ago, they peaked during the week of September 4-10. Since then, the number of cryptosporidiosis diagnoses has declined. These cases mainly affected children aged 1 to 9 years old (72%), with a higher incidence among children wearing diapers.
“To enhance control, it is important that children presenting with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis Do not bathe in swimming pools or public baths Do not go to day care until your symptoms are completely gone. Additionally, good hand hygiene should be practiced,” Public Health advises.
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that is transmitted through oocysts that can survive in chlorinated pool water. Symptoms include watery diarrhea and abdominal pain that can last for weeks. In immunocompetent people, it usually goes away within 30 days.
In recent weeks, an outbreak of Cryptosporidium parvum linked to drinking water has occurred in Tarazona (Aragón). No increased incidence of acute gastroenteritis or confirmed cases of Cryptosporidium were detected in the eight municipalities of Navarra that belong to the same water body, “which leads us to suspect that they are affected by the same problem”.
The number of hospital visits for respiratory tract infections increased slightly
On the other hand, there was a “slight increase” in the number of acute respiratory infection consultations in primary care last week, with Covid-19 cases are down, flu symptoms are up.
The rate is 470 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, including 6 cases of influenza syndrome per 100,000 inhabitants and 68 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 inhabitants. Twelve people have been hospitalized with covid-19 and one has died. Four cases of influenza have been confirmed this week Influenza A (H1N1), one person required hospitalization. There are currently no cases of respiratory syncytial virus.
High circulation of rhinovirus, and to a lesser extent adenovirus and parainfluenza virus, has been found in patients with acute respiratory infections.
Therefore, the public health department noted in the report that “different respiratory viruses can spread year-round” and recommended maintaining preventive measures such as vaccination, physical distancing, use of masks or adequate ventilation to avoid severe illness in susceptible people. disease. , due to advanced age or chronic illness.
pertussis
In recent weeks, Bordetella pertussis has been circulating in Navarre and seven cases of whooping cough have been confirmed, ranging in age from 6 months to 13 years.
The disease begins with an irritating cough that becomes paroxysmal within a week or two and may be accompanied by inspiratory wheezing. Episodes usually end with mucus discharge. This will last for several weeks. It can spread from person to person within the first 10-20 days.
The clinical manifestations of pertussis vary with age and vaccination history. In infants younger than 6 months old, the typical symptoms of stridor may not appear, and apnea may occur after the spasm. Children under 6 months of age, especially those who have not completed their primary vaccination series, “are at risk of complications and death.”
To this end, the ISPLN recommends that children be vaccinated “according to the recommended schedule”, i.e. starting from the 27th week of pregnancy, preferably at the 27th or 28th week, with one dose of dTpa per pregnancy, with the aim of transferring antibodies Give to newborns; avoid contact with infants who have a cough or other respiratory symptoms.
Antibiotic prophylaxis to control transmission “will be evaluated individually and when high-risk groups are present in the setting (children under 1 year of age, pregnant women in the last weeks of pregnancy, crowds), limited to close contacts (with relevant secretions) suffering from immunosuppression, Asthma, cystic fibrosis or congenital heart disease).
Infections spread by mosquito bites
In 2023, 10 dengue cases were reported among people traveling to Latin America and Asia. Six cases of malaria infection in people traveling to Africa were also reported.
both infections, and Chikungunya, Zika virus,as well as West Nile fever Mosquitoes can spread from person to person if they bite an infected person and then bite a healthy person.
Although there is no evidence that mosquitoes that can transmit these infections are widespread in Navarre, “the presence of mosquitoes may occasionally be observed during the warmer months.” Surveillance for the Navarre tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has been Its presence has been discovered many times in the Bidasoa Valley. In addition, the Mosquito Alert app has been notified this year of the detection of 7 cases compatible with Aedes albopictus in Pamplona, Escabate, Orza and Sangueza.
Therefore, “people diagnosed or suspected of having any of the above diseases must take extreme precautions to avoid mosquito bites until the illness is cured, fever subsides, and at least 10 days have passed since infection.” Start,” the public health department stressed.
Overall mortality rate in Navarra
During the week of September 11th to 17th, 103 people died (Full data was available last week), with values ”within the range expected for this time of year.”
Preliminary estimates for the week of September 18-24 suggest that the death toll remains at a similar figure. So far this year, the cumulative death rate is below the median of the previous five years.
The death toll is estimated to be about 130 fewer than expected due to a “mild respiratory virus season and moderate heatwave impact.”