No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCentral AmericaGuatemalaGuatemala declares emergency over dengue outbreak

Guatemala declares emergency over dengue outbreak

The government of Guatemala declared a national emergency on Thursday due to a dengue outbreak that has left 22 dead and more than 12,000 cases so far this year, Health Minister Francisco Coma reported.

“We have made the decision to declare a national health emergency due to the dengue situation,” the official said at a press conference.

Coma explained that the measure will be in effect for three months and entails the implementation of fumigations to eradicate the mosquito that transmits dengue. It also provides for increased care in hospitals, among other actions involving various public and private institutions.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, between January and August there have been 22 deaths from dengue in the country. In addition, 12,263 cases, 152% more than the same period last year.

“We must be working in a coordinated manner because we have to address not only promotion and prevention, but also manage the crisis caused by this epidemic,” Coma added.

Deputy Secretary of Civil Protection Walter Monroy said that with the approaching second stage of the rainy season (September and October), mosquito “breeding grounds” may increase as water stagnates.

“The importance of this intervention and inter-institutional coordination is to prevent current cases from increasing,” Monroy said.

The highest historical peak of dengue in Guatemala was registered in 2019 when there were more than 50,000 cases, according to official statistics.

Dengue is an endemic disease of tropical areas that causes high fevers, headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and in the most severe cases, hemorrhages that can be fatal.

The World Health Organization warned in April that dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases are spreading much further and faster due to climate change.

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Eyelash Viper Snake Is One of the Most Beautiful

There are at least 141 different species of snakes in Costa Rica. With that large number of species packed into such a tiny nation,...

Retired Nicaraguan Army Captain Sentenced to 50 Years for Treason

A retired military officer was sentenced to 50 years in prison in Nicaragua for the crime of "treason against the homeland," his family denounced...

Costa Rica Maintains Economic Stability Amid Global Tensions

Costa Rica is holding steady economically despite global tensions sparked by conflicts involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, according to Federico Quesada Chaves,...

Costa Rica Hunts for Nicaraguan Hit Squad After Exile’s Assassination

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) is investigating whether a hit squad tied to Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime is targeting exiled critics on its soil....

El Salvador Slams Paris Fashion Show Inspired by Cecot Mega-Prison Inmates

The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, joked on Saturday that he could send inmates from his mega-prison to France, after they were represented...

Fishing, Wildlife, and History in Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado is a magical and charming town. It’s one of the country’s hidden gems, best known for its world-class sport...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica