Cape Verde has declared a three-month national public health emergency to stem the spread of dengue fever and the resurgence of malaria.
“The measure, approved by the Council of Ministers, takes into account the upcoming rainy season (July) and its impact on the proliferation of disease-transmitting vectors,” the government said in a statement on Wednesday.
During the emergency period, vector control, urban sanitation and pest control operations will be intensified. Awareness campaigns and health surveillance efforts will also be strengthened in ports, airports and healthcare facilities, the statement said.
A rapid mobilization of human, logistical and financial resources is also planned, including the activation of the national emergency fund.
The decision was prompted by “critical situations” that persist in some neighborhoods regarding basic sanitation, where “the density of eggs and adult mosquitoes exceeds levels recommended by the World Health Organization,” the statement noted.
Cape Verde’s last dengue outbreak occurred in November 2023, peaking between July and October 2024, with around 19,000 reported infections and eight deaths, mainly in the capital Praia, on Santiago Island, and on Fogo Island. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
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