From January to date, Costa Rica has reported 12,952 cases of dengue and the disease is widespread throughout Latin America. For this reason, Sanofi company launched a vaccine that will arrive in the country in December. It is already being sold in Paraguay and Brazil and it will be distributed in Mexico, El Salvador and the Philippines.
According to the latest report from the Ministry of Health, the cantons affected the most by this desease are: Atenas, Quepos, Parrita, Osa, Nandayure, Buenos Aires, Pérez Zeledón and Garabito.
Doctor Celia Martínez de Cuellar, professor of the Department of Pediatrics at the National University of Asunción, said that dengue cases have increased in recent years due to many factors, which in some cases man cannot control in the short term, such as climate change and globalization.
The approval of the first vaccine against the disease is very encouraging news, since it is a way to prevent dengue and it will help to control this disease, which still represents a major threat to public health,
declared Martínez.
On July 29th, The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the vaccine effectiveness, safety and value for public health.