Dengue Fever on Brazil-Bolivia Border

In the first 2 weeks of this year (2020), a total of 399 cases of dengue fever have been registered in the Brazilian city of Corumbá, One young adult has died in Corumbá while a 9-year-old child has died from dengue in the neighbouring city of Puerto Suarez in Bolivia. Collaboration between the two cities across the border to control the spread of dengue may be challenging since the mosquitoes that carry the virus can cross the border between the two countries.

Advice

The risk of exposure will vary from place to place and may be high in many localities. The risk of acquiring dengue during travel depends on destination, season and duration of travel and activities during travel. Severe dengue and death are both relatively rare in general travellers but more frequently in those visiting friends and relatives.

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.