Guadeloupe: Officials warn of possible dengue outbreak

Event

According to health officials, at least five cases of dengue fever have been reported in Guadeloupe as of mid-November, the first cases confirmed since mid-2016. The five cases were reported in Abymes, Pointe-à-Pitre, and Petit Bourg. Public health measures, including fumigation campaigns aimed at eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, are anticipated in the coming days and weeks.

Context

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease found mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging.

Advice

Individuals in Guadeloupe are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites - e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping under mosquito netting or in an air-conditioned room - and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).