Dengue Fever in Guatemala - Update

A public health alert for dengue fever remains in effect. In the past 3-4 weeks, the number of reported cases of dengue fever has more than doubled to reach 278 infected people in the department of Quetzaltenango. The most affected municipalities include Coatepeque, Génova, Flores Costa Cuca, Colomba, El Palmar, and the southern area of San Martín Sacatepéquez.

Advies

The risk of exposure will vary from place to place and may be high in many localities.

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.