Chile declares sanitary alert in Tarapacá and Antofagasta

The Chilean Ministry of Health has declared a sanitary alert for the regions of Tarapacá and Antofagasta due to a meteorological emergency. The decision aims to mobilize financial and human resources to address the consequences of recent heavy rainfall and frontal systems.

In Tarapacá, the Iquique Hospital has reported significant damage, including issues in four surgical operating rooms and the psychiatry unit. Subsecretary of Healthcare Networks, Julio Montt, inspected the facilities and noted that the damage has forced the reorganization of services and the use of the Alto Hospicio Hospital to maintain care.

Health authorities have also issued warnings regarding the risk of mosquito proliferation in areas like Iquique, Alto Hospicio, and Huara. Following the rains, officials are urging the community to eliminate standing water to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes, specifically the Aedes aegypti, which can transmit diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.