In the supermarkets, the shelves remain empty, the government and the opposition deliver a fierce power struggle, because of the extreme crime dares in the evening hardly anyone on the street: Venezuela is in a deep crisis. Now scientists are sounding the alarm because many infectious diseases spread uncontrollably in the South American country.
Venezuela was once considered a role model in restraining pathogens, but the collapse of the health system has thrown the country back. In particular, diseases transmitted by insects have spread rapidly in recent years, researchers report in the journal "Lancet Infectious Diseases". These include malaria, dengue fever and the Zika virus.
The number of malaria infections alone has risen from just under 30,000 in 2010 to more than 411,000 in 2017. "Given the lack of monitoring, diagnosis and prevention, these figures are likely to underestimate the real situation," warns one of the study's lead authors, Martin Llewellyn of the University of Glasgow. "The increase in malaria cases could soon become uncontrollable." Reasons are the diminishing control of mosquito populations and the lack of medicines.
"Undermining efforts to eradicate disease"
Malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide. The pathogen is transmitted by mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 219 million people in 2017 suffered from malaria in 90 countries around the world, killing 435,000 people. Most fatalities are children under the age of five.
Also, the number of cases of dengue fever and infection with the Zika virus have increased significantly according to the study. "The recurrence of many infectious diseases is leading to a public health crisis in Venezuela and could undermine regional efforts to eradicate disease," write the authors of the study.
For a long time, Venezuela set the standards in the fight against infectious diseases in the region with its then solid health system. In 1961, it was the first country whose cities were declared malaria-free by WHO. Venezuela has been suffering from a severe supply crisis for several years. For lack of foreign exchange, it can hardly introduce food, medicine and toiletries.
Help is blocked
"The situation is critical: we have no medication, we have no material," internist Ana Vielma from the Algodonal hospital said during protests in Caracas last week. She demanded that the government of the controversial President Nicolás Maduro should let humanitarian aid into the country.
At the border, food, medicines and toiletries are ready for the needy. However, Maduro blocks the supplies because he considers them an excuse for military intervention. The self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaidó wants to bring the relief supplies together with thousands of helpers on the weekend.
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"We do not even have chlorine to clean," said Mauro Zambrano of the hospital union. "That's why the bacteria multiply - patients come into the clinic with one disease and go out with another."
The health crisis in Venezuela could become a problem for the whole region. On average, around 5,500 Venezuelans left their home each year in the past year - not infrequently they may have taken illnesses to neighboring countries. For example, in the Brazilian border region of Roraima, the number of malaria cases introduced between 2014 and 2017 has doubled.
"We call on the members of the Organization of American States and other international institutions to increase the pressure on the Venezuelan government to accept the humanitarian aid offered," said scientist Llewellyn. "Without the effort, the progress made in public health over the past 18 years could soon be dashed."