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Dengue fever cases are on the rise in beautiful Cancun and the state of Quintana Roo, worrying tourists planning to visit the popular vacation destination, however, should tourists be worried?
The Federal Ministry of Health has just published the number of dengue fever cases in Quintana Roo.
How many cases are there in Quintana Roo?
At week 12, they found 802 confirmed cases, 400% more than Yucatan’s 266 cases. Benito Juárez has the highest with 688 recorded cases, followed by Chetumal with 76, José María Morelos with 7 and Isla Mujeres with just 3 cases.
The other municipalities of Quintana Roo have a total of 28 cases, but it is not known how many each have.
Of these 28, 15 are non-serious cases and the remaining 13 are severe dengue cases or with acute symptoms.
The mosquito-borne disease has spread significantly in the region in recent months, and while the outbreak isn’t ideal, there are plenty of steps tourists can take to protect themselves while traveling.
How to avoid catching dengue fever?
Above all, the best way to avoid dengue fever is to stay away from mosquitoes – this can be done in several ways, for example:
- Wear insect repellent / insect repellent
- Wear long, appropriate clothing to cover your skin
- Stay indoors during peak mosquito hours
It’s worth noting that you don’t have litter or standing water lying around – as this is usually a breeding ground for mosquitoes – also if you have access to a mosquito net this is always a good option too .
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Tourists planning a trip shouldn’t be too worried about dengue fever; just make sure to take some precautions to avoid mosquitoes.
Also, it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor before traveling to a new place, just to stay informed of any updated health risks in the area via health advisories from trusted sources.
In addition to dengue fever, it is important to note that there are many other potential health risks that travelers should be aware of when traveling abroad, such as waterborne and foodborne illnesses, as well than other mosquito-borne diseases like chikungunya and Zika virus.
What is dengue fever?
It is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, or more specifically the Aedes mosquito – which is also known to transmit diseases such as Zika virus and yellow fever.
It is most common in subtropical and tropical regions of the world, such as Latin America and the Caribbean.
Most people who have it have only symptoms, including mild to high fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, rash, and in rare cases, light bleeding.
Only in rare and severe cases can it progress to what they call dengue hemorrhagic fever, which can then become fatal, causing severe bleeding and shock.
It should be noted that despite being potentially serious, it is quite rare for dengue fever to develop at this stage, so travelers should not be too concerned.
In terms of treatment, there is no specific one, but the sooner it can be detected the better, as proper medical care can reduce complications – typical cases can often be recovered after a week of symptoms .
Dengue fever isn’t something travelers should really worry about – just remember insect repellent, proper clothing, and keep up to date with any health warnings, and you can still have a safe and enjoyable vacation in Cancun and on the Riviera Maya.
Don’t let risk end up stopping you from having a memorable and fun vacation; there will always be health risks wherever you go, especially in more tropical climates.
The beautiful state of Quintana Roo awaits you. Just be sure to follow the right precautions!
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