Bolivia confirms 5th death from Chikungunya fever as cases spike

LA PAZ, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia recorded its fifth death from Chikungunya outbreak in the eastern department of Santa Cruz while infections from the virus keep surging, the Departmental Health Service reported Thursday.

Director of the institution Julio Cesar Koca said 901 new cases were reported last epidemiological week, which means the epidemiological curve has not reached its peak.

According to Koca, there have been 3,938 confirmed cases so far in 2026. The epidemic peak might be in about three weeks if the rains, which facilitate mosquito breedings, cease.

The red alert for the epidemic came into effect on Feb. 9 after the first confirmed death from the disease.

Since then, health brigades have intensified work to fumigate and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds in urban neighborhoods, and in the urban periphery of 27 municipalities in the affected department.

Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted by the mosquito "Aedes aegypti," and it causes a sudden high fever, intense joint and muscle pain, headache and fatigue. ■