Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guatemala City (Agenzia Fides) - Central America has recently been hit by an epidemic of dengue fever that has so far caused the death of 26 people. The country that has the highest number of victims is Honduras with 15 deaths, followed by Nicaragua with 5, Costa Rica 3, Guatemala 2 and El Salvador 1. In Guatemala, the local health authorities have confirmed the death of 2 children for the hemorrhagic form of the disease, and other 3700 people have been infected. A national emergency for dengue hemorrhagic fever that hit areas of central and south-west has been launched in the Country. Among the preventive measures to limit the occurrence of breeding sites of mosquitoes, the authorities have called on all citizens to keep the gutters clean, destroy plastic or glass vases and tires, wash barrels and containers, empty the water that is collected in flower boxes. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 31/07/2013)
