Last week, the national health ministry declared a dengue fever epidemic in Burkina Faso after a surge in deaths and new cases.

Biting by infected mosquitoes transmits the virus. Insects thrive in warm climates.

In Burkina Faso’s most deadly outbreak in recent memory, more than 200 people have died this year.

It is urged that people take advantage of free testing facilities and screenings. The symptoms of dengue fever can include high fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, and a rash.

The health ministry estimates that more than 50,000 people have the virus, mostly in Burkina Faso’s two biggest cities – Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso.

The World Health Organization recently warned that half the world’s population was now at risk of dengue fever. The disease was poised to emerge as a growing threat on the continent.