Honduras: Dengue fever epidemic feared

Event

Honduran health officials are on alert ahead of a possible dengue fever epidemic. The fears are due to the cyclical nature of dengue outbreaks, which in Honduras typically occur every other year. A national campaign will soon be launched to reduce populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, potential carriers of dengue fever as well as chikungunya and the Zika virus.

Context

Nearly 23,000 cases of dengue fever were reported in Honduras in 2016, while only some 5000 cases were reported in 2017. So far this year (as of mid-February), fewer than 300 cases have been reported. However, case rates are expected to spike in the spring and summer as temperatures rise.

Advice

Individuals in Honduras are advised to keep abreast of epidemiological reports and to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites.