The inhabitants of Pedregal Grande, a low-income area in Piura, Peru, have limited access to water, with only 30 minutes allotted per day due to shortages. As a result, they must store water in plastic tanks, which have now turned into breeding sites for mosquitoes.

The high temperatures and absence of air conditioning drive people from their homes, as they report being swarmed by mosquitoes. This has led to a worrying increase in dengue cases both in the city and the country of South America.

“You go out to get some air and the mosquitoes arrive suddenly and attack you,” said Segundo Ramos, a Peruvian driver who got the disease several days ago.

Ramos, who is currently shirtless and wearing shorts and sandals, mentioned that his neighbor is also suffering from dengue fever. He also shared that there are three or four other sick neighbors within a 100-meter radius. This is all taking place in the scorching 97 degree (36 degree Celsius) temperature.

As of Friday, Piura had reported 5,275 cases of dengue, making it the second most impacted city in Peru. Just a few days prior, it had held the highest number of cases. Overall, Peru has recorded over 34,000 cases of dengue in the first two months of 2021, which is double the amount reported in the same timeframe in 2020, as reported by the country’s health ministry.

The government of Peru announced a state of health emergency in the majority of its provinces on Monday due to the growing number of cases. This surge in cases coincides with unusually high temperatures caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Piura officials have initiated the establishment of designated zones within medical facilities for the treatment of individuals infected with dengue fever.

The public health system in Peru was overwhelmed last year due to a dengue outbreak. Thousands of people sought treatment in emergency rooms. Unfortunately, 44 individuals in Peru have already lost their lives to dengue just in the first two months of this year, surpassing the 21 deaths recorded during last year’s epidemic.

Specialist Santiago Valdez, who was dispatched to Piura to deal with tropical diseases, mentioned that the current lack of water and methods of storing it are contributing to the spread of the illness. This particular disease is transmitted by Aedes Aegypti, a type of mosquito that thrives in warm and wet environments.

He stated that individuals must gather water and despite attempts to keep it closed, there is still negligence allowing mosquitoes to lay eggs and multiply.

While the majority of dengue cases exhibit mild symptoms, the illness has the potential to result in intense headaches, fevers, and muscular discomfort.

The World Health Organization reported in December that Peru’s 2023 outbreak of dengue was caused by a combination of rain and high temperatures, creating ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. This was particularly prevalent in the northern region of the country.

On Thursday, Health Minister César Vásquez openly stated that dengue is not currently managed and the numbers of cases are expected to rise.