Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Praia (Agenzia Fides) – There continues to be a spread of dengue haemorrhagic fever in Cape Verde, with 748 new suspected cases, leading to a total of 6,707 cases of infection. According to medical sources at least three people have died recently in the country, in this its first outbreak caused by a mosquito carrier of dengue fever: three in the capital and one in Santa Cruz. The first cases in the archipelago with 432,000 inhabitants, were found in October. The Ministry of Health and the local government have decided that administrations, schools and offices will be closed for a day of national mobilization against mosquitos. The overall incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades, with about two-fifths of the world population at risk. Its symptoms are similar to those of malaria, headache, fever, muscle aches. Yet there is no approved vaccine against the pandemic; the only method to prevent or combat it, is to destroy the insect carrier. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 5/11/2009)
