Health officials in Reunion reported an additional 1322 confirmed dengue fever cases during the week ending April 28. This brings the total cases for the first four months of 2019 to more than 9200.

Image/ARS Indian Ocean

Areas in the south of the island continue to be very active for dengue, these include Saint-Louis, Etang-Salé, Les Avirons, Saint-Joseph, Petite-Ile. In addition, the commune of Saint Paul in the West has seen cases double in recent weeks.

Since the outbreak started in 2018, more than 16,000 confirmed indigenous cases have been reported, including nearly 450 hospitalizations and 14 deaths.

Health officials this wee started a new communication campaign to encourage the Reunion population to act. The challenge of this communication campaign is to enable as many people as possible to become aware of the risks associated with this dengue epidemic and to protect themselves from the disease.

Entitled, “All concerned, ACT! “, the campaign includes the following: 4X3 billboard campaign : 200 panels across the island over 14 days; a radio and TV campaign; distribution of 8,000 posters across the island to partners and an information and awareness leaflet on prevention measures essential for fighting mosquitoes, among others.

Dengue infects nearly 400 million people across more than 120 countries each year. Most survive with few or no symptoms, but more than two million annually develop what can be a dangerous dengue hemorrhagic fever, which kills more than 25,000 people each year.

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Dengue viruses are arboviruses (arthropod-borne virus) that are transmitted primarily to humans through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.