Bolivia reports 3 deaths from Chikungunya fever amid red alert

Bolivia has recorded three fatalities and 2,913 confirmed cases of Chikungunya fever in the eastern department of Santa Cruz, health authorities reported Wednesday.



The victims include two men and one woman, aged 83, 56, and 78 respectively, said Carlos Hurtado, head of Epidemiology at the Santa Cruz Departmental Health Service.



He warned that the epidemic curve has not yet peaked and urged the public to remain vigilant. A red alert was issued on Feb. 9 due to the rapid spread of the disease.



The positivity rate currently stands at 65 percent, the highest since the outbreak began, while 55 percent of the confirmed cases are in Santa Cruz de la Sierra municipality, the department's capital, Hurtado said.