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Lowering River Levels in Amazon Basin Raise Disease Rates

Posted: Nate on Apr 15 | Health

The seasonal lowering of rivers in the Amazon Basin began last week and while the dry season is a welcome change after an unusually destructive wet season, residents of the region are being encouraged to maintain precautions against floods and disease.  According to Jorge Espinoza, general director of the National Naval Hydrography Service (SNHN), several rivers, including the Ibare in Puerto Almacén, the Yacuma in Santa Ana, and the Itonamas in La Horquilla are still in a state of red alert.  Other rivers which are currently categorized at orange or green alert have a tendency to rise even after the end of the seasonal rains.  “The tendency of all of the rivers of the Amazon Basin, for the moment, is to drop, but the general tendency for the period is that we shouldn´t neglect the risks that are also involved,” warned director Espinoza.

As the waters have begun to recede, officials have noticed a proliferation of water and mosquito-borne diseases in the area.  In the Beni, diseases such as dengue fever and malaria are finding more victims in previously flooded areas said Ernesto Moisés Yabeta, director of the Departmental Health Service.  Moisés Yabeta also said that now that the floods are receding officials have to combat these illnesses with the limited financial resources provided by the prefecture and international aid.  The director said that there have been 97 registered cases of dengue in Beni, 47 in Trinidad, 32 in Riberalta, and 18 in Guayaremarín.  The number of patients with malaria was also described as “alarming” though exact numbers are not yet available.  Despite the stress on the health infrastructure of the region a vaccination campaign against H1N1, or “swine flu,” has begun in Trinidad, the capital of Beni department.

For more in Spanish see:

http://www.laprensa.com.bo/noticias/15-04-10/noticias.php?nota=15_04_10_socd3.php

http://www.erbol.com.bo/noticia.php?identificador=2147483927053

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