Mexico fighting dengue

This item appears on page 18 of the September 2009 issue.

Mexico is conducting a mosquito-eradication program to combat dengue fever. The rate of infection has increased 15% over the 2008 level, with almost 20 times the number of cases in 2000. For the first time, dengue has been detected in 21 of Mexico’s 31 states. The disease has spread all over Latin America, in fact, with Brazil and Argentina also reporting record numbers of cases this year.

Travelers are advised to use mosquito repellant, wear long pants and sleeves, use nets, stay indoors at dusk, etc.