Peru: Cuzco responds to yellow fever outbreak

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Peru: Cuzco responds to yellow fever outbreak

http://www.livinginperu.com/news/3329

Health | 6 March, 2007 [ 09:52 ]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=220><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=zi-bu>Yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical areas.</TD></TR><TR height=1><TD class=zi-credit-separator></TD></TR><TR><TD class=zi-bu>? LIP</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

(LivinginPeru News) -- Regional health authorities from the province of Cuzco, Peru have implemented vaccination stands in various districts to help control a recent outbreak of Yellow Fever.

Regional health director, Alberto Caro, informed that 13 stands have been setup in the districts of Santa Maria, Puente Chahuares, Ivochote, Echarate, Palma Real, Ollantaytambo, as well as in the province of Callca and the Cuzco bus terminal near La Convencion.

The vaccine drives are in response to a recent outbreak of yellow fever cases in the district of Echarte.

Additionally, authorities have declared a 'yellow alert' in La Convencion after two people reportedly died due to yellow fever.

Health officials also cautioned area residents and visitors to stay out of virgin jungle areas and to get a vaccine at least 10 days before visiting any part of the Peruvian jungle region.

According to authorities, visitors in the high jungle areas of Peru (between 400-2000 meters above sea level) are especially susceptible to the disease.

Some of the known symptoms are: fever, headache, muscle aches (myalgia), vomiting, red eyes, Jaundice, bleeding (may progress to hemorrhage), decreased urination, Arrhythmias, heart dysfunction, delirium, seizures, and coma.

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Re: Peru: Cuzco responds to yellow fever outbreak

Peru: Authorities to battle yellow fever in 3 regions

http://www.livinginperu.com/news/3379

Peru | 13 March, 2007 [ 08:38 ]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=270><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=zi-bu>Authorities declare war on yellow fever in 3 regions.</TD></TR><TR height=1><TD class=zi-credit-separator> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=zi-bu>? LIP</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
(LIP-jl) (El Comercio) -- Peru's Health Ministry informed that it is developing a free vaccine drive to help immunize residents in three interior regions of the Andean nation.

According to Maria Ana Mendoza, Peru's National Immunization Coordinator, 227,475 people ranging in ages from 2 to 59 will be vaccinated against yellow fever in the regions of Cajamarca, Ancash, and Pasco.

According to Mendoza, the vaccine drive will begin later this month, and later extend to other yellow fever prone regions in the following months.

A recent yellow fever outbreak in the region of Cuzco has reminded authorities of the vulnerability that exists in Peru's rural areas.

As agricultural and mining operations begin to spread into once uninhabited areas located on the border of the Andes mountains and Amazon jungle, authorities have decided to take preventative measures to thwart future outbreaks.

Yellow fever vaccinations are good for approximately 10 years and experts recommend receiving the vaccination no earlier than 10 days before entering high risk areas.