South American Nations Suffer Outbreak of Dengue Fever

VOA News ^ | March 21, 2007

[SwinneySwitch]

The U.S. State Department has issued a warning to Americans against travel to parts of Paraguay because of an outbreak of dengue fever.

A statement issued Tuesday said citizens may want to particularly avoid the area of Asuncion, Paraguay, where most of the nation's infections are concentrated. At least 18,000 people in Paraguay have been infected, and at least a dozen of those have died of the severe form of the disease, known as dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Some experts say the number of cases is significantly higher than the official reports. Paraguayan officials have been accused of a responding inadequately to the problem.

The mosquito-transmitted disease causes high fever, headaches, and pain in muscles and joints. No vaccine exists. It cannot be spread directly from person-to-person.

Experts say a hot, wet, South American summer, good breeding conditions for mosquitos, has contributed to the rise of the disease. Officials are urging people to eliminate any standing water on their property and use fumigation to kill mosquitos on their property.

Bolivia and Brazil have also suffered recent outbreaks, and Uruguay recently reported its first confirmed case.

[SwinneySwitch]

An employee of Uruguayan Ministry of Health fumigates
a park during a campaign against Dengue fever in
Montevideo, 15 Mar 2007

[flashbunny]

Thanks, rachel carson!

[Cicero]

Coming soon to a city near you.

[SwinneySwitch]

Pan Ping!

[steveo]

The mosquito-transmitted disease causes high fever, headaches, and pain in muscles and joints. No vaccine exists. It cannot be spread directly from person-to-person.

Coming soon to a city near you.

Are you importing mesquitos?

[Cicero]

No, but it wouldn't be the first mosquito vectored disease to enter the country.

[LibKill]

Great, just great.

Probably will get here soon just like West Nile.

Also Known As "Breakbone Fever" because of the pain it induces.

[ca centered]

I got the milder form of dengue fever after visiting Costa Rica when the mosquito's had a party on my ankles. Once the fever hit it only took an hour to almost put six feet under. The worst was over in a couple of weeks, but it took a month to completely recover. The first 36 hours I couldn't stand or support my weight. Real high fever, zero energy,awful headache. And it was the mild form.

[1066AD]

Used to be called Breakbone Fever because of the pain it causes.