Honduras: Dengue fever outbreak continues nationwide as of mid-June /update 1

Event

Health officials have recorded over 10,300 cases of dengue fever nationwide, and 34 related deaths, between January 1 and mid-June 2019. Officials have also issued a health warning in the Sula Valley due to the number of growing cases. Dengue cases in 2019 already exceed all cases throughout 2018. Further spread of the disease is likely to continue over the coming 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 present in Honduras are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds on their properties (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).