The Salvadoran Medical Association (COLMEDES) and the Health Movement “Dr. Salvador Allende”/ALAMES assert that there are indications of a significant underreporting of dengue cases and deaths in the country. This suggests that the figures reported by the Ministry of Health (MINSAL) do not reflect the reality in hospitals.
Up to epidemiological week 30, which covers from July 21 to 27, MINSAL reported 4,458 suspected cases of dengue, 434 confirmed cases, 25 severe patients, 401 hospital admissions, and 6 deaths. All of the deceased were minors.
In week 30 alone, the ministry reported 270 suspected cases, 22 confirmed cases (although this figure might vary as it is usually updated midweek), 2 severe dengue cases, 22 hospital discharges, and 2 deaths.
On July 3, the National Civil Protection System declared a red alert throughout El Salvador due to an increase in dengue cases and after health authorities publicly acknowledged the death of three minors due to the disease. However, at that time, the endemic corridor (a graph constructed based on the behavior of the disease over the past decade) indicated that dengue was in the safety zone, meaning the number of cases was within the expected range for the period.
