Peru is on alert for dengue fever, which has killed eight people and infected more than 5,000 so far this year, the country's health ministry said Tuesday. According to Peru's Ministry of Health, dengue has caused more deaths and reduced the number of infections by more than 50 percent compared to the same period in 2021. Efforts to combat the disease have included education campaigns and fumigation in the capital Lima and other cities. In Peru, where cases of dengue were first detected in 1984, 39 deaths and 49,274 dengue infections were recorded in 2021. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease that occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. In mild cases, it causes high fever, rashes and muscle and joint pain. In severe cases, it can lead to severe bleeding, shock and even death.
