French territory Guadeloupe declares epidemic of dengue driven by uncommon strain

NEWS WIRES

15 November 2024 at 5:03 am·1-min read

File photo of a tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) biting through clothes on a human arm taken August 7, 2024 in Paris, France.

Authorities in the Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe on Thursday declared a dengue epidemic driven by a virus strain that had a limited circulation for two decades. Health officials in the overseas French territory warned of a "high number" of "severe forms" of the disease.

The overseas French territory of Guadeloupe declared a dengue epidemic on Thursday, with authorities noting the outbreak was being driven by a less common strain of the mosquito-borne disease.

"Dengue fever has entered the epidemic phase," said a statement issued by the mayors' association and the regional health authorities on Thursday night.

This year, "a strain of the dengue virus that has not circulated much in the last 20 years" is causing authorities to fear the possibility of "severe forms" with "a high number of cases to be expected if control and prevention actions are not implemented", the statement added.

The dengue 3 serotype (DENV-3) is one of four variants of the virus.

The health authorities said among 62 samples analysed between late September and mid-October, 97 percent were caused by DENV-3.

The seasonal caseload at clinics of around 80 per week expected by the French public health agency has been far surpassed. At the end of October the agency estimated the weekly figure hit 540, more than double the number seen in September.

(AFP)

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