According to the Bolivia Ministry of Health, the national number of Chikungunya cases has reached 5,371, with the majority concentrated in the department of Santa Cruz, which has registered 4,371 cases, as of March 7.
Despite health authorities highlighting that Santa Cruz has shown a downward trend in recent weeks, other departments, such as Beni, have declared a Health Emergency due to outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya.
In response, the Ministry of Health and Sports, together with the National Vector-Borne Diseases Program, has implemented an Integrated Management strategy that combines chemical and biological control with a strong focus on environmental health.
In response, the Ministry of Health and Sports, together with the National Vector-Borne Diseases Program, has implemented an Integrated Management strategy that combines chemical and biological control with a strong focus on environmental health.
This includes:
The Ministry maintains the deployment of 20 experts and 335 brigade members in strategic districts. In Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the work is concentrated in districts 9 and 10, where more than 12,000 homes have been covered and critical points such as tire shops and health facilities have been addressed.
The actions include the distribution of 1,300 liters of insecticide and the use of biological larvicides applied with backpack sprayers. The public was also reminded that dense vegetation serves as a refuge for the mosquito, so clearing weeds from yards and gardens is essential to eliminate the vector’s resting places.
While providing recommendations to the public, residents were urged to participate in community clean-up efforts to eliminate containers that collect water and to maintain the VERTC prevention habits (Turn Over, Remove, Remove, Cover, and Scrub). Finally, the Ministry guarantees ongoing epidemiological surveillance not only of chikungunya, but also of dengue, Zika, malaria, and leishmaniasis, ensuring the availability of medications and free treatment.
