Ecuador: COVID-19 Outbreak, Vaccination Is a Priority

Vaccination Against COVID in Ecuador, July 2024 Photo: @KCH_FM

August 1, 2024 Hour: 4:58 pm

The health ministry confirmed earlier this month that the new KP.2 (FLiRT) variant of Covid-19 is already circulating in the Andean country.

On Thursday, specialists from the Ministry of Public Health in Ecuador insisted on vaccinating the population against a possible resurgence of the Sars-Cov-2 virus, which causes Covid-19.

Epidemiologist Marcelo Aguilar explained on Ecuavisa that according to official figures, the South American nation has registered some 10,000 cases and 15 deaths from the respiratory disease so far this year.

However, the specialist warned that this figure could be higher, as the Ministry of Health counts serious cases in hospitals, but does not count people who only come for outpatient consultations and do not need hospitalization.

Aguilar reiterated that there is a significant increase in respiratory diseases in the country.

💉 En una entrevista, el médico epidemiólogo Marcelo Aguilar informó que este año se han registrado aproximadamente 10.000 contagios y 15 fallecimientos debido a la enfermedad respiratoria del Covid-19. Aguilar aclaró que la cifra de contagios es parcial, ya que el Ministerio de… pic.twitter.com/RjZIoW3xoY
— Ecuadorplay (@EcuadorPlay) July 31, 2024

The text reads,
In an interview, epidemiologist Marcelo Aguilar reported that this year there have been approximately 10,000 infections and 15 deaths due to the Covid-19 respiratory disease. Aguilar clarified that the number of infections is partial, since the Ministry of Health only counted serious cases in hospitals.
He stressed the importance of “prioritizing vaccination for children under five years of age and priority groups, such as people with chronic diseases.”

People are less cautious than they were before and there is a subvariant, FLiRT, which is circulating intensively in Ecuador along with the other respiratory viruses, he stressed.

During the last week of May, the Ministry of Health resumed vaccination against Covid-19 with the aim of reducing serious complications and deaths in the population at greatest risk of infection, such as children and the elderly.

The health ministry confirmed earlier this month that the new KP.2 (FLiRT) variant of Covid-19 is already circulating in the Andean country.

The health agency recalled that the FLiRT variant has not proven to be serious but is highly contagious, so, in the presence of respiratory symptoms suggested taking biosecurity measures such as hand hygiene, use of masks and isolation.

The Ministry of Health reiterated that the symptoms of the FLiRT variant are similar to those of a seasonal flu: fever, muscle pain and headache, chills, respiratory problems.

However, with this new variation there may also be loss of smell or taste and gastrointestinal symptoms, the document stressed.

Last June, the Medical Federation of Ecuador expressed concern about the increase in respiratory diseases such as influenza, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus.

According to the association, in private consultations in April, two out of every 10 people tested positive for respiratory illnesses.

Experts here detailed that climate variation in the South American region has caused a movement of pathogens in the Latin American region.