Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) place 7 Caribbean nations on watchlist for rise in Dengue cases

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have decided to place seven Caribbean countries on the organisation’s Watch Level 1 list, due to the rise of Dengue Fever in these nations and have asked travellers to maintain caution if they plan on visiting these nations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have stated that dengue has put many at risk in certain sections of the Caribbean, Mexico, as well as Central and South America.

The CDC has also issued a list which includes eighteen nation that have reported a higher number of dengue cases than usual, warning travelers that going to these nations is risky, considering the current circumstances.

The Caribbean nations which have been added to CDC’s Watch Level 1 are as follows:

1. Martinique

2. Saint Barthelemy

3. Saint Martin

4. Turks and Caicos Islands

5. Jamaica

6. Guadeloupe

7. Haiti

When a nation is placed on Watch Level 1, it is the CDC’s way of warning tourists that they must take precautions against mosquito bites and beware of a rise in dengue cases.

Not too long ago, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued a warning highlighting the disturbing rate at which Dengue Fever was rising in the Americas.

According to PAHO, the region had recorded 3.5 million cases of dengue, as well as upwards of 1000 deaths till the 26th of March, 2024.

The situation is such that individual nations have been working on limiting the spread of the disease but have not managed to do so efficiently enough, which has garnered international attention, forcing organisations such as PAHO to take notice.

The consequences of this rise in cases do not just affect those who reside in the nations that have been placed on the watch list but also have the potential to affect travellers and tourists to a significant degree. This is a matter of concern at this point in time, especially because many tourists make their way to the Caribbean and Latin American region during this time of the year.