Côte d'Ivoire: Dengue fever outbreak ongoing as of late July

Event

A dengue fever outbreak is ongoing in Côte d'Ivoire as of late July. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 2514 cases have been reported, along with two associated deaths between January 1 and July 14. The majority of the cases are being recorded in Abidjan’s Cocody-Bingerville and Abobo East districts. Health officials have launched a campaign to contain the outbreak and prevent the spread of the disease.

Context

Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rashes. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging.

Advice

Individuals in Côte d'Ivoire, particularly Abidjan, 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.).