2.822 cases of Dengue reported in 4 Departments National Epidemiological Unit reported today that since January to today, 2.822 Classic Dengue cases have been confirmed in the Departments of Santa Cruz (88%), Beni (9%), Cochabamba and Chuquisaca, Bolivia.

This Unit is taking extreme precautions to control and diminish the infestation rate of the Aedes Aegypty mosquito which is the disease's carrier.

To do that medicines provision has to be kept flowing in order to continue with the sanitary actions that are being carried around if four Departments, with more intensity in Trinidad (Beni), where an alliance between National Armies, Health Ministry and NGO´s to prevent the disease's spread.

More Communities in Beni are being affected by Floods. Four communities more were reported affected in the south area of the Department, 7 in the North West between Beni and La Paz due to rive overflows. In Santa Cruz, it is estimated that 100 more families are added now to the number of affected ones, while in Beni it is about 90 and 60 more at risk and being evacuated in the Border wit La Paz.

The emergency… Heavy rains caused by El Niño in January and February impacted eight of nine departments in Bolivia with hailstorms, frosts, floods, landslides, overflowing, droughts and epidemics. To date, there have been more than 67.899 families affected, 37 deaths and six people missing. The total number of victims have been estimated at over 300,000.

The Department of Beni, in the eastern region of the country in the Amazon valley, is currently the most affected area, with over 17,070 families, or 85,350 people, of which many are children and adolescents.

What World Vision has done thus far Our response...

Thus far, World Vision has shipped to several regions in the country five tons of medicines worth value US$1,743,000. We have also delivered 2,000 family hygiene kits and 2,000 water tanks for a total of US$ 21,800.

In Santa Cruz we have attended 1,250 families (6,250 persons) in seven communities, providing clothes and personal hygiene kits for a total of US$129,130. In the Guarayos ADP (WV Germany Funded) a proposal submitted to the German Government has allowed us to help people there and in some provinces of the neighboring department of Beni with 75 tons of food, hygiene kits, water tanks, mosquito nets, water purifiers, among other things.

In the eastern region of Bolivia, Cochabamba, WV has delivered clothes, school, and hygiene kits for a total of US$8,000.

For further information contact: Andrés Vera, Communications Manager World Vision Bolivia, to andres_vera@wvi.org or call on (591) 7155-9476 (591) 2237-5549 ext. 124