The number of dengue cases, in the Americas is rising, with over 5.2 million cases reported this week exceeding the annual record set in 2023 as per the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). PAHO spokesperson stated that there have been 5,214,480 cases of dengue in the Americas. In all of 2023 there were a total of 4,572,765 reported cases in the region. “The situation with dengue is critical ” mentioned PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa.
Countries in the hemisphere have been most affected far with Brazil having the highest number of cases. Rio de Janeiro declared a health emergency in February due to a rise in cases.
In Peru 20 out of the countrys 25 regions are on alert due to the epidemic which has seen over 155,000 cases and resulted in 146 deaths according to government reports this week. While some American areas have shown signs of improvement recently PAHO has cautioned that countries, across both hemispheres should brace for spring and warmer weather.”Most instances of the disease, in the hemisphere tend to occur during the part of the year while those in the northern hemisphere typically arise in the latter half ” noted. “This year we’ve observed a peak in cases in the south signaling a rise in incidents up.”
The surge in dengue cases is linked to factors according to PAHO, such as increasing temperatures, extreme weather occurrences, rapid population expansion and insufficient water and sanitation facilities that can serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
As of 2024 there have been 1,858 reported deaths from dengue in the Americas this year. A decrease, from years total of 2,418.
While there is a dengue vaccine that can help reduce cases and fatalities it’s important to note that it may not immediately halt outbreaks.
