So far this year, 128 cases of hemorrhagic dengue have been reported in Costa Rica, 77% more than the total number of cases seen in the country last year, according to statistics from the Public Health Ministry.
Health officials are alarmed at the significant increase in this potentially deadly disease, Health Minister María Luisa Avila told the press Friday.
Costa Rica has been fighting dengue for 14 years, and it is normal that cases would increase, but not so drastically, she said.
The number of those suffering from the classic form of dengue is also on the rise; from January to August, 11,892 people were treated for this disease, a 118% increase over the number of cases treated last year.
The areas of the country most affected by this mosquito-transmitted illness are the Caribbean and northern Pacific, but cases have been registered all over the country.
Fumigation efforts are under way to try to curb the growth of dengue, Avila said.
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