Nicaragua: Dengue fever outbreak continues nationwide

Event

According to health officials in Nicaragua, at least 46,685 cases of dengue fever, including 9218 laboratory-confirmed cases and two associated deaths, have been reported nationwide between January 1 and early November. Ongoing unrest throughout the country has reportedly prevented health workers from carrying out mosquito eradication efforts, increasing the risk of large-scale outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases.   

Context

Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rashes. DHF is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging. 

Various other mosquito-borne diseases are also present in Nicaragua, including Malaria, Zika virus, and chikungunya. 

Advice

Individuals in Nicaragua 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.).