A banner in San Salvador, El Salvador, calling for no more deaths from dengueLatin American health authorities report today (in a joint effort) that two million people have been affected so far this year by dengue, the illness transmitted by mosquito bites (well, bites from two specific types of mosquito, to be more accurate).
Two million is a lot with less than two months gone. Last year Bolivia had a full frontal attack, but this year the worst affected area is Colombia (dengue respects no frontiers and typically breaks out in force in a different tropical zone from year to year) but all LatAm, Tijuana on down, is affected. As well as Colombia, Brazil and Ecuador are in the firing line this time around, apparently.
Dengue isn't a very pleasant experience but as long as you're not bitten a second time while infected it's not life threatening. But a second bite will cause a serious illness and there have been 35 deaths so far this year (18 in Colombia) from the very nasty stage two dengue.
The season usually lasts until around May. Advice: If you're visiting, bring a mosquito net and those anti-bite creams.
Two million is a lot with less than two months gone. Last year Bolivia had a full frontal attack, but this year the worst affected area is Colombia (dengue respects no frontiers and typically breaks out in force in a different tropical zone from year to year) but all LatAm, Tijuana on down, is affected. As well as Colombia, Brazil and Ecuador are in the firing line this time around, apparently.
Dengue isn't a very pleasant experience but as long as you're not bitten a second time while infected it's not life threatening. But a second bite will cause a serious illness and there have been 35 deaths so far this year (18 in Colombia) from the very nasty stage two dengue.
The season usually lasts until around May. Advice: If you're visiting, bring a mosquito net and those anti-bite creams.