Paraguay reports first dengue cases, DENV-3 serotype, in 9 years

The epidemiological situation of dengue in Paraguay is showing a progressive increase, with an average of about 1,000 notifications per week. However, so far, low viral circulation has been reported.

The DENV-3 serotype reappeared in the country's epidemiological scenario after 9 years of absence. The updated Health Surveillance report indicates that in the last week the discovery of two positive cases of dengue with this serotype was reported.

The cases were identified in the city of Areguá, Central department. The affected people are children.

The average number of suspected reports of the disease is 998 per week. Currently, in the national territory, there are reports of cases of three serotypes: DENV-1 (48%), which is the predominant one, DENV-2 (45%) and DENV-3 (7%), the serotype detected in recent days.

The dengue cases in recent weeks correspond to 13 neighborhoods of Asunción (Zeballos Cué, Loma Pytã, Jara, Obrero, Trinidad, Santa Ana, Ykuá Satí, Tablada, Los Laureles, San Vicente, Pinozá, Hipódromo and San Pablo) and 13 departments: Pdte. Hayes, Central, Amambay, Alto Paraguay, Paraguarí, Misiones, Itapúa, Guairá, Caaguazú, Boquerón, Canindeyú, Cordillera and Concepción.

In the past 37 years in Paraguay, all four dengue serotypes have been recorded. Serotype DENV-1 was identified in 1988/1989. Notification of this serotype was observed again in 1999 and persisted until 2000, before giving way to DENV-2, which was confirmed in 2001.

In the 2002/2003 epidemic, DENV-1 returned, this time accompanied by a new serotype, DENV-3. DENV-3 continued to circulate until 2004. This serotype was again identified in the 2006/2007 epidemics, and then continued to circulate until 2010, and was last recorded in 2016.

Paraguay has been considered an endemic country since 2009, meaning that the virus circulates throughout the year, with peaks generally occurring between March and April, with a decline in May.