Nine dead in hemorrhagic dengue outbreak in Bolivia: officials

In the worst national outbreak in a decade, nine Bolivians have died after contracting hemorrhagic dengue fever, officials announced.

In the worst national outbreak in a decade, nine Bolivians have died after contracting hemorrhagic dengue fever, officials announced.

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The health ministry reported 64 confirmed cases of people with the deadly hemorrhagic dengue fever virus and some 15,800 people with regular dengue fever.

Local media reported the number of people affected by the classic type of dengue fever was around 20,000.

Authorities have declared a health emergency in the central, eastern and northern parts of the country, in the departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and Cochabamba.

The hemorrhagic variant of the dengue virus is much more dangerous than the classic type because it causes violent internal bleeding and swift fluid loss, which can lead to a quick, painful death if not treated in time.