VOICED : Perú detecta primer caso de difteria en 20 años en medio de la pandemia

An epidemiological alert was issued in Lima after a diphtheria case was detected amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The patient, a 5-year-old girl from La Victoria, was hospitalized but stable. Preventive measures, including house-to-house checks and vaccinations, were initiated. Diphtheria, a contagious disease affecting the throat, can be fatal in 10% of cases. The Pan American Health Organization warned that COVID-19 has severely impacted healthcare in Latin America, disrupting vaccination campaigns and other health services.

What prompted the health alert in Lima?

• A new strain of COVID-19

• A case of diphtheria

• An outbreak of measles

• A rise in flu cases

Where does the 5-year-old diphtheria patient live?

• In the town of Arequipa

• In the district of La Victoria

• In the city of Cusco

• In the Amazon rainforest

What is a key characteristic of diphtheria?

• It is transmitted by mosquitoes

• It is a chronic disease

• It primarily affects the liver

• It is highly contagious through secretions

What impact did the COVID-19 pandemic have on healthcare in Latin America?

• Improved healthcare infrastructure

• Decrease in disease outbreaks

• Suspension of vaccination campaigns

• Increased funding for hospitals

Which countries were mentioned as having diphtheria cases?

• Argentina and Chile

• Colombia and Ecuador

• Haiti and Venezuela

• Mexico and Guatemala