HANTAVIRUS UPDATE 2010 - AMERICAS (33): CHILE (CENTRAL)

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HANTAVIRUS UPDATE 2010 - AMERICAS (33): CHILE (CENTRAL)


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Date: Sun 26 Sep 2010

Source: La Tercera, Chile [in Spanish, trans. Mod.TY, edited]







Cases of [hantavirus infection] 40 percent higher than in 2009

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After 4 years during which it seemed that hanta [virus infections]

were controlled, based on the low number of cases, today the

situation has again become relevant [to public health]. To date,

there are 49 people infected with the disease [virus], "a figure

greater than what is expected for this period," according to the

Ministry of Health (MINSAL) epidemiological report. Of these, 17 died.



Given this, the authorities issued an alert to the assistance

network, "During the next months an expected seasonal increase will

begin for this disease. Because of this, the health teams must be

alert for early indications," the document stated.



The chief of Epidemiological Surveillance of MINSAL, Maritza Garcia,

explained that although the numbers are still lower than those

registered in an epidemic year (in 2001 there were 81 cases),

mortality is high and represents 35 percent of infections. This

increase [in the number of cases of hantavirus infection] is due to

an increase in the rodent population that transmits the disease

[virus] (the long-tailed pygmy rice rat [_Oligoryzomys

longicaudatus_]). "If this is a year of more rain, if the quila

plants [a perennial bamboo that grows in the humid temperate forests

of Chile and Argentina] are flowering more or if there is greater

availability of grain, on which the rodents feed, the disease spreads more.



She also added that when the disease [incidence] decreases, people

tend to relax their preventive measures, which also affects [the risk

of] infection.



The regions where the most cases have occurred are Biobio (14

[cases]) and Maule (9). In that respect, the Biobio health SEREMI

[Regional Ministerial Secretariat] epidemiologist, Cecilia Soto, said

that 93 percent of the infected individuals are males. "The

environmental conditions are by far an important factor, such as

firewood collection." Osvaldo Palma, of the Maule health SEREMI,

said, on the other hand, that despite "the earthquake, where many

families decided to remain living in their destroyed houses, this

year [2010] we have not had a substantial increase in cases."



[Byline: Ana Maria Morales]



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-ESP





[Cases of infection by a hantavirus continue and are increasing in

this region of central Chile. Although not stated, the hantavirus

involved in this and previous cases doubtless is Andes virus.



An image of the long-tailed pygmy rice rat (_Oligoryzomys

longicaudatus_), the sigmodontine rodent host of Andes hantavirus,

can be seen at .



A map of Chile showing the administrative divisions including Biobio

and Maule regions can be seen at .

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Chile can be accessed at

. - Mod.TY]



[see also:

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (27): Chile (OH) 20100701.2198

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (24): Chile, USA, susp 20100509.1509

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (23): Chile (BI) 20100506.1476

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (21): Chile, Argentina 20100427.1357

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (20): Chile (AR) 20100422.1305

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (19): Chile (LL) 20100422.1297

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (18): Chile (ML) 20100420.1285

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (16): Argentina, Chile 20100407.1125

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (15): Chile, Bolivia 20100402.1050

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (14): Chile (AI, LG) 20100329.0990

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (13): Chile 20100322.0915

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (07): Chile 20100215.0534

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (06): Chile 20100213.0515

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (05): Chile, conf. 20100210.0467

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (04): Chile, susp., RFI 20100209.0448

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (02): Chile 20100119.0210

Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (01): Chile 20100108.0097]

...................................ty/mj/mpp



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