The Ecuadorian Ministry of Public Health confirmed the first mortality due to a recent dengue outbreak in the southern province of Guayas (located on the southern Pacific coast of Ecuador, and where the largest city – Guayaquil – is located). The Health Minister confirmed the death of a 12-year-old girl.
The culprit is the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
The Health Minister also informed the public that a campaign to control the dengue outbreak is in the works, and asked the public to also do their part to control the spread (e.g., cover water containers etc).
The last large dengue outbreak in Ecuador occurred in 2010, when 4,000 people where infected and a total of 4 deaths.
At the time of this publication, a total of 100 cases have been confirmed.
Jan.31 2012 – A total of 480 cases have been confirmed, with one mortality.
Feb.16 2012 – A total of 1,474 cases of dengue have been confirmed in Ecuador, in the following provinces:
- Guayas – 530
- El Oro – 295
- Los Rios – 281
- Manabi – 224
- Esmeraldas – 77
- Napo – 40
- Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas – 15
- Zamora Chinchipe – 15
- Canar – 15
- Pastaza – 12
- Cotopaxi – 8
- Santa Elena – 7
- Pichincha – 3
