Refugees say they will begin their return to El Paraiso within two months. President Ramiro De Leon Carpio confirmed that cases of hemorhagic dengue exist in Guatemala, in a press conference August 28. Rumors of the deadly new strain of the disease have circulated in the country for months, but the president is the first high official to confirm its existence. But Health Ministry officials and representatives of international health organizations say the disease has been in the country since 1994. Speaking on conditions of anonymity, the health officials accused the minister of suppressing information on recent cases of hemorhagic dengue reported in Zacapa and Guatemala provinces.
Dengue is a mosquito-bourne disease producing symptoms similar to malaria.
In addition to the classic symptoms, the deadlier hemorhagic dengue causes profusive bleeding from the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, anus and genitals. Presbyterian Church Faces More Violence Guatemala City, August 26. Another armed attack on Presbyterian Church members was reported this week, bringing to three the members of that church killed in recent months. Batz died of his wounds, and Sance was severely injured. The killing-kidnapping appears to be part of a wave of attacks against the Presbyterian community.