Chikungunya blues

Cases of chikungunya and dengue fever have increased this year in coastal provinces.

A 22-month-old boy has become Nicaragua's first reported victim of chikungunya virus.

Nearly one year since the confirmation of the first cases of the virus, the total number of infected people this week reached 748.

The victim was a 23-day-old infant, reportedly from the department of Olancho.

Health officials say they have a handle on the situation, but they urged residents to continue eliminating mosquito breeding sites around the home.

Coming down with dengue or chikungunya is a feverish nightmare. Now imagine having both viruses at the same time. That's what happened to two residents of the Pacific community of Chomes, in Puntarenas, who tested positive for both viruses, Costa Rica’s Health Ministry reported Thursday.

Costa Rican Health Ministry officials on Thursday confirmed two more cases of the chikungunya virus. Both were reported in the central Pacific community of Jacó, bringing the total number of cases to 47.

Over the weekend, the Health Ministry confirmed the first local case of the chikungunya virus in the Pacific town of Parrita, Costa Rica. This marks the first time the mosquito-borne virus has been locally transmitted in Costa Rica, according to Dr. Daniel Salas with the ministry’s health surveillance department.

Employees at 345 hotels across Costa Rica are conducting cleaning campaigns in their communities to eliminate potential breeding sites for mosquitoes that transmit the dengue and chikungunya viruses. The good news is that the number of dengue cases has dropped by 79 percent this month compared to the same period last year.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – At least 16,000 patient have contracted the chikungunya virus in El Salvador, prompting health officials in the Central American country to step up the fight Monday to eliminate disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Health Ministry officials will ask the National Emergency Commission (CNE) to issue a "green alert" to draw attention to the spread of chikungunya after 13 patients tested positive for the virus in the country.

Health officials are analyzing blood samples from a 17-year-old man and 30-year-old woman who could become the first two cases of Costa Ricans to test positive for the chikungunya virus.

Health Vice Minister María Esther Anchía on Friday confirmed that a French tourist is officially the first patient to test positive for the chikungunya virus in Costa Rica.

Two patients were discharged this week from local hospitals after the Health Ministry said lab tests for the chikungunya virus were negative.