Martinique has issued a dengue fever alert, with health authorities on the Island disclosing that since the beginning of the year, they have recorded 250 cases.
According to local reports, thirty percent of those cases occurred in the last four weeks.
As a result, health officials are strengthening epidemiological surveillance and vector control actions around confirmed cases.
In addition, they are urging community clean-up operations to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.
The bite of an infected mosquito transmits dengue.
The illness affects infants, young children, and adults, with symptoms ranging from mild to incapacitating high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash.
It can become severe dengue, characterised by shock, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, and serious organ impairment.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), dengue incidence has increased in the Americas over the past four decades.
From 1.5 million cumulative cases in the 1980s, the incidence moved to 16,2 million in 2010-2019.
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