Dengue fever common in Central America and Mexico

All countries in Central America and Mexico are reporting cases and outbreaks of dengue fever.

• Mexico: more than 26,500 cases so far this year
• • Tamaulipas (municipalities of Reynosa, Ciudad Victoria)
• Costa Rica: almost 1,100 cases this year
• El Salvador: more than 3,800 cases this year
• Guatemala: 2,835 cases this year
• Honduras: almost 14,250 cases this year
• • Comayagua (most affected municipality is Comayagua)
• Nicaragua: almost 9,500 cases this year
• Panama: almost 700 cases this year (affected municipality includes Panama City)

Advice

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.