Dengue cases in the Americas are on the rise, with reported cases exceeding 5.2 million this week, surpassing the record set in 2023, as stated by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
As reported by CNN, PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa said in a news briefing on Thursday, April 18, noting, “We are in an emergency situation because of dengue."
Meanwhile, PAHO spokesperson Ashley Baldwin informed CNN that as of Wednesday, 5,214,480 cases of dengue have been reported in the Americas, surpasses the total number of cases reported in the entire year of 2023, which was 4,572,765.
In 2024, the Americas have reported 1,858 deaths from dengue so far, which is lower than last year's total of 2,418.
While, countries in the southern hemisphere have been the hardest hit so far, with Brazil accounting for a majority of the cases.
In Peru, the government has declared a health alert in 20 out of the country's 25 regions due to the epidemic, which has escalated to over 155,000 cases this week.
Meanwhile, the government reported that 146 individuals have lost their lives due to the outbreak.
PAHO attributes the surge in dengue cases to various factors such as increasing temperatures, extreme weather events, rapid population expansion, and insufficient water and sanitation services, which provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
According to Barbosa, a vaccine for dengue exists and can help in decreasing severe cases and fatalities. However, he cautioned that it cannot instantly halt outbreaks.
On the other hand, the World Health Organization states that the dengue virus is prevalent in over 100 nations within tropical and subtropical regions, primarily in urban and semi-urban locales.
Additionally, it is endemic in US territories such as Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
