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Paraguay is facing the largest epidemic of chikungunya, a viral disease transmitted through mosquito bites, and one of the largest ever recorded in South America, the Ministry of Health said in a statement Wednesday, citing U.S. specialists who are in the South American country analyzing the situation.
In Paraguay we are seeing a pattern similar to what has been seen in other chikungunya outbreaks,» explained the specialists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Experts have reported that this virus first appeared in the Americas in 2013, and since that year it has caused outbreaks in many countries, including Paraguay, and its most common symptoms are fever and joint pain, but sometimes it can generate severe disease and affect the brain, heart, liver and other parts of the body.
For this reason, they have informed that the population should avoid mosquito bites and have advised to wear light clothes with long sleeves and pants, apply repellent and create mosquito-free environments with the installation of screens on doors and windows and use mosquito nets when resting or sleeping.
The experts wanted to highlight »the great work that is being done in Paraguay», mainly informing the population about the disease and how to protect themselves.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)