Quito, 15 sep (EFE).-the presence of two varieties of the dengue virus in Ecuador not had been circulating for some years on its territory raises the possibility that cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever, the most lethal, will according to medical sources told Efe.

“The risk is given by the simultaneous circulation of at least two serotypes in populations of endemic areas who have already suffered from classic dengue”, told Efe the director-general of health, Juan Moreira, and the director-general of the National Institute of hygiene, Marcelo Aguilar, in an interview by e-mail.

If a person has suffered dengue fever, caused by any serotype is infected by a different one will have an “increased risk” of developing dengue hemorrhagic fever, the severe form of this disease, according to experts, why is dangerous various varieties are present in a same territory

Between 2002 and 2007 predominated in Ecuador the movement of serotype 3, which was then displaced by the 1.

But the presence of serotype 2 in the province of Esmeraldas, and 4 in Guayas and Manabí provinces that had not appeared for some years now has been detected.

This indicates that there might be a circulation simultaneously for at least two varieties of dengue fever in these provinces.

The Minister of health, David Chiriboga, warned Tuesday of a possible epidemic in the coming winter – between December and February – following the discovery of the circulation of these two serotypes.

The last major of the disease in Ecuador outbreak occurred in 2010, when it affected 4,000 people and produced 4 deaths.

The authorities recommended preventive measures to avoid that the mosquito that loads the virus, such as housing and its environment free of objects where stagnated water. develops

“The mosquito that transmits dengue can grow in containers as small as a lid of the bottle or can of tuna, and above all used tires,” explained Moreira and Aguilar.

Before any symptoms the patient should not self-medicate with anti-inflammatory medications or flu, according to experts, who emphasized that the only drug “insurance” to lose in case of dengue fever is acetaminophen, known also as paracetamol.

They also recommend going to the nearest health suspected of suffering from dengue fever.

The last major outbreak of this disease in Ecuador occurred in 2010, when it affected 4,000 people and produced 4 deaths. EFE/file