Tweet
Areas to avoid disease
By Mariano Rodr?guez M.
The Social Security Fund implemented a new Sentinel Areas Network. CRH / File
The Social Security Fund implemented a new Sentinel Areas Network. CRH / File
SAN JOSE, May 19 (CRH) - With the aim to identify early onset of various diseases, mainly related to respiratory problems (such as Influenza A H1N1), the Social Security Fund implemented a new Sentinel Areas Network.
As explained by Dr. Rosa Climent Martin, medical manager of the institution, this strategy started this month and will help strengthen the epidemiological surveillance of respiratory viruses in the health centers are located at major entry points into the country.
Nationwide
This new network is composed of seven sentinel units, located in the cantons of Los Chiles, Puntarenas, Limon, Alajuela, Liberia, San Carlos and Carthage. Each unit sentinel, explained Dr. Climent, is composed of three health facilities (one hospital and two health areas) that make coordinated efforts in both promotion and prevention, as in patient care.
The chief said that as part of the implementation process of the new network, additional staffed medical, nursing and epidemiology at different medical centers.
These officials, together with laboratory personnel and primary care, will be responsible for identifying patients with respiratory problems who attend daily consultation, providing comprehensive care to follow up the cases, making sampling to identify virus and implement activities to promote health in their communities.
First results
The implementation of the new Sentinel at Carthage Area identified an increase in respiratory cases notified from 10 May for early warning surveillance system of the CCSS, so said Dr. Xiomara Badilla Vargas, head of Subarea Epidemiological Surveillance of the institution.
The official emphasized that the joint work between the CCSS central level and regional level, identified an increase in the number of cases of influenza A H1N1 into the region, accumulating to 14 May a total of 93 instances. Of these, "said Badilla, 16 cases were positive for laboratory examination and 77 cases were associated with clinical and epidemiologic investigation.
Furthermore, of the 93 cases identified only 15 had risk factors, the most common asthma. Also identified numerous cases of mild and only two patients required hospital internment.
Dr. Badilla said a recurring feature in cases detected was the presence of vomiting and diarrhea, thereby allowing for a differential diagnosis with other pathologies.
As part of the results, identified the transmission of influenza A H1N1 virus in several communities in the canton of Oreamuno, being more frequent in the areas of Cot and San Rafael. According to Dr. Badilla Vargas said, thanks to the work developed by the new area began early sentinel containment measures needed to control and prevention of disease, within which said:
? Intensification of promotional activities in the area of attraction especially in the protocols of sneezing and washing hands.
? Strengthening the provision of materials and supplies needed to care for respiratory conditions.
? Coordination with the national reference laboratory (INCIENSA) to increase the analysis of respiratory samples in the guard unit for such locations have not yet identified cases and to introduce laboratory tests for diarrhea cases.
? Alert people and health facilities for the intensification of the detection of respiratory cases