health

Dengue outbreak in Juan Díaz

Some 20 people have reported contracting dengue fever, including two health clinic workers.

carlos lemos/la prensa

buggy: Rainwater stagnates in trenches around the health clinic, which remains under construction.1120236

At the J.J. Vallarino Health Clinic being built in Juan Díaz, the new structures are surrounded by grass, shrubs, and deep trenches where rainwater stagnates. Residents of Guayabito No. 2, a community just behind the construction site, are blaming at least 20 cases of dengue fever on conditions there.

“My two sons, daughter-in-law, granddaughter and I have all had dengue,” said community leader Patricia Morán. “There’ve been about 20 cases here in Guayabito No. 2, just a few steps from the clinic and no health authority seems to know about it.”

Morán has called on officials from the Social Security agency to pay attention to the matter so that the disease doesn’t spread.

A source from the health clinic confirmed that there have been two cases of dengue fever among staff, including a maintenance worker and a police official who works in the emergency room.

Clinic Director Mabel González commented that “there is dengue across the country,” and denied responsibility for making sure that mosquitoes weren’t breeding in puddles on the premises. Additionally, González dismissed the notion that the insects were present at all.

“Mosquitoes prefer clean water,” she said. “They’re aristocratic.”

The medical center sees about 2,000 patients each day, and counts another 1,000 employees.

Representatives for Aseguradora Mundial, the insurance company undersigning the project, and contractor Latinoamericana de Ingeniería Civil y Estructural, indicated that work will resume as of Dec. 2.

The $2.9 million development was originally scheduled to wrap up in September, but has been suspended since June 12 for unspecified reasons.