DENGUE FEVER EPIDEMIC IN CAPE VERDE

UNCLAS PRAIA 000208 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI CDC TBIO UN CV SG SUBJECT: DENGUE FEVER EPIDEMIC IN CAPE VERDE ¶1. In a meeting on October 29 with the Diplomatic Corps in Cape Verde, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health provided information about the mushrooming epidemic of dengue fever that is afflicting the country. The following details were provided: --there are over 3,700 suspected cases in Cape Verde; --42 cases have been confirmed through blood sample testing in Dakar, Senegal; --three victims have developed hemorrhagic of dengue fever but are not in critical condition; --the World Health Organization has sent two teams with lab equipment to help provide the capability for the GoCV to start performing testing in Cape Verde; --the islands of Santiago (the location of the capital city of Praia) and the smaller neighboring island of Maio have the vast majority of the cases. However, suspected cases are starting to appear on other islands; --the epidemic is expected to continue, and worsen, until the unseasonably warm temperatures and high humidity decline, causing mosquito populations to decrease. ¶2. The Embassy's Medical Unit has provided Mission employees with comprehensive information about prevention methods and mosquito breeding mitigation. One dependent of one LES employee has been confirmed to have Dengue. Other diplomatic missions in Praia also have reported confirmed cases among their employees, with the Portuguese Embassy and the UN mission each having multiple victims. ¶3. Also discussed was the increasing number of Malaria cases being reported in Cape Verde during this rainy season. The annual average of 100 cases has already been exceeded; the Health Ministry promised to circulate concrete data soon. The Director of the Fight Against Malaria program reported that there are currently 32 cases of malaria but expect over 100 cases. ¶4. It is important to mention that at this moment, Cape Verde is facing three (3) potentially epidemic conditions: Dengue Fever (current serotype found in CV is DEN-3),Malaria, and Influenza A/H1N1. The first two conditions are closely related to the rainy season and mosquito proliferation. Because the rainy season usually ceases in November, there are expectations that the Malaria and Dengue Fever epidemics may last up to December/January. Close watch, self protection, and medication may be imperative during this time. Because the potential for Malaria drugs epidemics is unpredictable, post's medical doctor recommended the use of anti-malaria for the next two months. The most commonly used prophylactic drugs are: Malarone, Mefloquine (Larium) 3198, Doxycycline, Primaquine, and Coartem; however, only Mefloquine and Doxycline are available locally. ¶5. A large outdoor public evening event for this weekend has been canceled as a result of the Dengue epidemic. Post will provide further updates as appropriate. MYLES