Cape Verde Dengue Epidemic: 8th Death Confirmed Amid Outbreak
Cape Verde has confirmed its eighth death linked to an ongoing dengue epidemic that has gripped the archipelago for a year. The latest fatality, reported Wednesday at Agostinho Neto Hospital in the capital city of Praia, marks the seventh death recorded since September as health officials struggle to contain the virus.
The victim was a resident of the São Domingos municipality, the first death reported in that specific area. To date, the majority of the fatalities have occurred on Santiago Island, with three deaths in Praia and two others split between the municipalities of Santa Cruz and São Miguel. Fogo Island has also been affected, recording two deaths in the municipalities of São Filipe and Mosteiros.
Numbers Surpass Previous Outbreaks
According to the latest health bulletin from the Ministry of Health, Cape Verde has reached a cumulative total of 16,153 cases. While the current death toll of eight is higher than the six fatalities recorded during a major 2009 outbreak, the total number of infections remains lower than the 21,000 cases reported 15 years ago.
In response to a dramatic surge in cases during the rainy season, the government declared a national state of contingency in early October. This emergency status is currently scheduled to remain in effect until the end of November.
A Shift in the Epidemic
Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva announced last week that the epidemic appears to have entered a “downward phase” as the rainy season concludes. However, the Prime Minister warned against complacency, urging citizens to maintain rigorous prevention measures. Authorities are continuing to focus on street cleaning and the drainage of stagnant water to eliminate the breeding grounds of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the disease.
Symptoms and Risks
Dengue is a viral infection that typically presents with high fever, severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, and skin rashes. While the disease is treatable with proper medical attention, health officials emphasize the importance of early diagnosis. Without care, the infection can progress to severe hemorrhagic dengue, which can lead to organ failure and death.
Image: Pexels – Matilda Wormwood
