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Venezuela

Venezuela – Malaria (ECHO Daily Flash of 22 May 2014)

According to recent reports from Venezuelan health authorities and local NGOs, over 28 000 cases of malaria have been reported so far this year. In 2013, the estimated figure was of 70 000 cases, a number unseen in the last 70 years.

Malaria, according to the WHO was fully eradicated in Venezuela in 1960. Although malaria infections mostly occur in the Amazon areas, there have recently been confirmed cases in urban areas close to Caracas (Quilombo, 45 km away).

In its World Malaria Report 2013, the WHO put Venezuela as one of the three countries in the world where malaria is growing. Venezuela has also seen a 34% increase in the number of dengue cases in 2014 compared to 2013. All four type of dengue virus are circulating although the most commonly found is DENV 2, responsible for the epidemic last year.