Dengue Fever in Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Caribbean Islands

In the Dominican Republic, a total of 1,251 infected people have been reported. One person has died. Both Cuba and Jamaica have registered almost 600 cases with 1 death in Jamaica. Nearly all the Caribbean islands have reported 10 to 100 cases with the exception of Grenada (almost 400 cases), Guadeloupe (350 cases) and Guyana almost 200 cases). Only Saint Barthelemy reported no cases.

Advice

The risk of exposure will vary from place to place and may be high in many localities.

All travellers to areas where the dengue fever virus is active can reduce their risk of exposure by taking all necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Many persons with dengue fever do not seek medical care and are not reported to health authorities. There may be many more cases in the community than the reports indicate.

Travellers should also be aware that where dengue fever virus is active, there is a possibility in some locations that the chikungunya and Zika viruses may be present also since they are transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue virus.