Message for U.S. Citizens-
This Message is to alert U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Chile that the Chilean Ministry of Health declared a Dengue Alert for Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) on April 27, 2018. There are now thirteen confirmed cases of locally transmitted dengue. While the Aedes egypti mosquito which carries dengue is not present in continental Chile, this mosquito is found on Easter Island.
Actions to Take:
- Visit the CDC Travelers Health Page.
- Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for country health advisories or call CDC at 800-232-4636 or 404-639-3534.
- The CDC recommends the following for preventing mosquito bites:
o Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
o Use an appropriate insect repellent.
o Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
o Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
o Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors, since Aedes are day biting mosquitos this is most important for children who may be napping during the day.
Assistance:
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in Chile, located at Av. Andrés Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago, at +56 22 330 3716, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The after-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +56 22 330 3000.
- See the State Department’s travel website for Travel Alerts and Country Information for Chile.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
