Dengue in Latin America

This item appears on page 66 of the September 2010 issue.

Health authorities in several Latin American countries have released warnings that dengue fever cases have increased dramatically in the last year. Puerto Rico, Honduras and Venezuela all have seen large outbreaks that include increased cases of the life-threatening “dengue hemorrhagic fever” form of the disease.

Mosquitoes carry the disease and should be avoided by using mosquito nets and repellents with DEET.