Dengue fever in Mexico and Central America

Dengue fever cases and outbreaks are being reported by Mexico and the following countries in Central America:

Mexico

• Chiapas state
• Guerrero state: almost 6,000 suspected and confirmed cases
• Morelos state: 11 caes of dengue haemorrhagic fever
• Sonora state: 69 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever; 1 death

Costa Rica

• National reports: as of 23 May 2015, 1,254 cases
• Most affected provinces include Guanacaste, Punta Arenas, Limon, San Jose, Alajuela, Heredia, and Cartago.

Honduras

• National data: slightly more than 20,000 cases with 200 new cases per week.

Panama

• National data: 490 cases; 2 deaths
• Most affected places include Los Santos, Herrera, Panama Centro, San Miguelito.

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.