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Dengue Fever in Angola (Update)

18 Oct 2013

The dengue fever outbreak in Luanda province on the northwest coast of the country is ongoing. Cases are also being reported from Malanje province in the central north of the country, Cuanza Sul province in the west and Uije province in the far north of Angola. As of 5 September 2013, the number of cases of dengue fever stood at 1200 cases with 11 deaths nationally. Most cases have been located in the city of Luanda.

At least 90 dengue fever cases have been associated with travel to Angola. CDC, the World Health Organization, the Angolan Ministry of Health, and the European Union are working together to respond to the outbreak. In April 2013, ten cases of dengue fever in travellers returning from Luanda, Angola, to five countries on four continents, were reported to the globally distributed GeoSentinel Surveillance network.

Advice for Travellers

Avoidance of mosquito bites, particularly during daylight hours, by covering up with clothing, the use of bite avoidance measures such as repellent and bed nets is advised. Elimination of breeding sites around hotel rooms/houses is advised for longer term stays.