Dengue fever in the Americas - summary

Dengue fever virus transmission is being reported by the following countries and localities:

• Mexico - affected states include Sonora and Tabasco (2 deaths)
• Nicaragua
• Costa Rica
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Nicaragua
• Panama 
• Dominican Republic - localities most affected: La Canela, Hato del Yaque, Santiago de los Caballeros.
• French Guiana
• Jamaica
• Colombia - 117 deaths
• Venezuela
• Argentina - affected provinces include Buenos Aires, Jujuy, Misiones, Salta (municipality of Oran; 6 deaths), Santa Fe; more than 36,000 cases
• Bolivia - Santa Cruz department
• Colombia - more than 37,500 cases; cases reported by 816 municipalities; departments most affected: Valle de Cauca, Antioquia, Santander, Tolima, Cundinamarca, Huila.
• Paraguay - approximately 140,000 cases; deaths 13; municipalities most affected: Asunción metropolitan, Coronel Oviedo, Caaguazú, Encarnación.
• Peru - affected regions include Ancash, Piura (over 3,200 cases, deaths 9; districts most affected: Castilla, Morropón, Talara, Sechura), Lambayeque (Olmos)
• Uruguay

Advice

The absence of reports from other countries does not mean that there is no dengue fever transmission in those countries. 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.