The Venezuelan Ministry of Health has confirmed that during the first 19 weeks of 2014, the country has recorded 28,153 cases of malaria, according to a El Universal report Tuesday.
According to the report, particularly hard hit are the states of Bolivar and Amazonas, where local authorities are still in state of emergency due to the epidemics.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe complications and die. In 2010 an estimated 219 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide and 660,000 people died, most (91%) in the African Region. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page