Guatemala declared a public health emergency in the country on Thursday due to a dengue fever epidemic that has killed at least 22 people and infected more than 12,000 since the start of the year, the government announced.
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“We have made the decision to declare a public health emergency due to the situation at the national level,” Health Minister Francisco Coma announced at a press conference, indicating that the measure would remain in effect for three months.
According to the Ministry of Health, 22 people died of dengue fever in the country between January and August. In addition, 12,263 cases were reported, 152% more than the same period last year.
The measure, which involves several public and private entities, provides in particular for fumigation to eradicate mosquito vectors of disease.
“The importance of this intervention and interagency coordination is to prevent the current cases from increasing,” stressed Undersecretary for Civil Protection Walter Monroy, recalling that the worst dengue epidemic in the country, with more than 50,000 in 2019 falls cases.
It is currently the rainy season in Guatemala until October. Mosquitoes that transmit the disease lay their eggs in standing water.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue fever is characterized by high fever, severe headache, retroorbital pain, muscle and joint pain, nausea, and vomiting.