At the beginning of 2025, Americana experienced the worst dengue outbreak in its history. Every year there are cases of dengue fever, but since last year there has been a sharp increase. With 19 confirmed deaths and more than 5,500 positive cases to date, it has become the community with the most deaths from the disease in the region. In the district where Operation Rescue Americana is based, more than 230 cases have been confirmed, including 15 children or adolescents who participate in our weekly project activities.
Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of the Aedes Aegypti Mosquito, which lives in more tropical regions. It can cause mild or severe symptoms, but the most critical form is dengue haemorrhagic fever, which in some cases leads to death.
In order to sensitise the population to the seriousness of the disease and the high number of cases in the city, we have educated the children and young people in a playful way about what dengue is, how it is transmitted, how it is treated and, above all, how it can be prevented. It is important to remove breeding grounds for larvae, such as rubbish lying around and vessels with stagnant water. We also informed parents about the importance of vaccination to prevent infection, visited the local health centre and posted stories on Instagram about dengue prevention.
