The Pacific weather phenomenon known as El Nino has devastated large areas of South America with floods, storms, and extremes of hot and cold weather.

This summer has been hotter than most in the southern hemisphere. Temperatures in Columbia, Peru and Chile have broken all records.

Mosquitoes may carry malaria and dengue fever

The heat wave and dramatic swings in the normal climate have brought more insects, especially mosquitoes which carry malaria and the potentially more dangerous disease, dengue fever.

The lack of basic hygiene education in some villages makes them ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Rosa Chero: authorities must help

Rosa Chero, from Northern Peru: "I really thought this was a simple problem, but no. It started with my youngest baby and then the other two children. Now they are all sick, it could be me next. The authorities know these illnesses are preventable. It is up to them to provide us with a solution."

Peru's president, Alberto Fujimori has been trying to assist. The government has authorised emergency aid to several parts of the country, but says the changes brought about by the El Nino effect are hard to predict.

Some doctors think the plague of mosquitoes could get worse.

Dr Ana Sandoval, of the Piura Health Centre: "We are starting to understand how this phenomenon is playing havoc with the climate. It has led to an increase in the reported number of cases of malaria. We could be on the verge of an epidemic. That is despite all the efforts we have made to introduce preventative measures."

Rain in Argentina

Other countries in the region have experienced more rain than usual.

In Argentina that has led to fears that a different strain of mosquito carrying the fatal dengue fever could be multiplying at unprecedented rates.

Fumigating against dengue fever carrying mosquitoes

In the capital Buenos Aires the authorities have been fumigating homes and public buildings.

Fernando Lopez, director of environmental control: "These sudden swings in temperature and the atmospheric conditions we see in Buenos Aires today, especially the abundant rain, lead to more mosquito eggs than normal hatching."

Dengue fever and other tropical illnesses are not new to the Argentinean people. Thousands died at the beginning of the century in a number of epidemics.

Man provides the conditions for mosquitoes to thrive

But scientists say not all the blame can be placed on unusual weather conditions. Poor personal hygiene in large parts of South America is a major factor.

Professor Nicolas Schweigman, University of Buenos Aires: "The hot or cold climate will of course influence the mosquito population, but what influences it most is if we allow potential breeding places for them to reproduce. It is man who creates the conditions for mosquitoes to thrive."

Weather experts are predicting the freak temperature changes associated with El Nino could be around for several months yet. As the casualty list grows some of South America's poorest nations are calling for international aid to help combat the wave of disease.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©