The Venezuela Ministry of Health is reporting an increase in the number of dengue fever cases during the past epidemiological week, according to an El Universal report Tuesday.
The new data, published in the Epidemiology Report #29, shows the number of cases from Jan.1 to July 20 to 32,168. This is up from 26,457 cases reported during the same period in 2013, which prompted health officials to call the situation “worrisome”.
This compares with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) date update on July 23, which recorded 29,066 cases and no deaths.
According to the news report, the states hit by the viral disease include western Zulia state (4,491 events); north central Aragua state (2,830); western Mérida state (2,183) south western Táchira state (2,151), north central Carabobo state (1,540), northern Nueva Esparta state (1,493), and southern Amazonas state (1,107).
Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. This disease used to be called “break-bone fever” because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain that feels like bones are breaking.
People get the dengue virus from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. It is not contagious from person to person. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
There are three types of dengue fever in order of less severe to most: the typical uncomplicated denguefever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHS) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there may be 50–100 million dengue infections worldwide every year. However, new research from the University of Oxford and the Wellcome Trust, using cartographic approaches, estimate there to be 390 million dengue infections per year worldwide.
