“There is no contagion within continental Chile”, MINSAL´s Epidemiology Department Head Christian Garcia stressed while adding that infected people were detected thanks to the reinforced surveillance measures.

Garcia´s statement came after the aedes aegypti mosquito presence was confirmed over the weekend at a bus terminal in the commune of Los Andes, in the central region of Valparaíso.

According to García, Chile has been free of dengue since the mid-20th century and the presence of a few specimens is now associated first with the cargo transport and people.

Dengue is causing deep concern in Chile since considerable rising dengue cases reported in the Americas, especially in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, and the spread of the vector to new geographic areas.

jha/car