Paraguay’s Health Minister, Antonio Arbo, has declared a national epidemic alert since the country was unable to eliminate the disease only control an outbreak.

The declaration was also driven by the fact there is a “high degree of larvae infestation and confirmed reports of new outbreaks of dengue to the north and east of the country,” said Dr. Celia Martinez head of the country’s Sanitary Vigilance.

Last week the country launched an education and awareness campaign in anticipation of the upcoming rainy Spring months when the disease infestation rate increases. 

Accord to Mercopress, last year 70 people died in Paraguay from the disease.