In recent days, Peruvian authorities have warned of the presence in the Tumbes region of a dengue genotype that would show more aggressive symptoms.

José Antonio Torres, in charge of the Regional Health Directorate (Diresa), told the media last Tuesday that there have been mild cases carrying serotype 1, but that in recent weeks there has been a steady increase in type 2, especially the cosmopolitan genotype that could lead to death when they show more severe symptoms.

Dengue outbreak keeps 20 regions of Peru in state of emergency

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) noted that the four dengue serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DEN-V 4) circulate in the Americas, and in some cases co-circulate.

“Infection with one serotype followed by another infection with another serotype increases a person’s risk of suffering from severe dengue and even dying,” the agency explains.

Torres said, according to the daily Mail, that they had intensified the work to control both the larvae and the fumigation in Tumbes, Zarumilla and Contralmirante Villar. The genotype would be the cause of an increase in cases.

Nationally, Peru records more than 300 deaths from dengue.

This disease is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito infected with one of the four serotypes of the virus. Symptoms include moderate to disabling high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash.