Dengue cases top 5.2 million in the Americas as outbreak passes yearly record, PAHO says

CNN
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Dengue cases are increasing in the Americas, with more than 5.2 million cases reported this week, surpassing the annual record set in 2023, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

PAHO spokesperson Ashley Baldwin told CNN on Thursday that 5,214,480 cases of dengue had been reported in the Americas as of Wednesday. For all of 2023, the total number of cases reported in the region was 4,572,765.

“We are in an emergency situation because of dengue,” PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa said during a press briefing on Thursday.

Countries in the southern hemisphere have been hit hardest so far, with Brazil accounting for the majority of cases. In February, Rio de Janeiro declared a state of public health emergency amid a surge in cases.

In Peru, 20 of the country’s 25 regions are on health alert due to the epidemic, which has reached more than 134,000 cases, the government announced this week.

The situation appears to have stabilized in recent weeks in some South American hotspots, but PAHO warned that other countries in the region, including those in the northern hemisphere, must prepare for the arrival of spring and warmer temperatures.

“Most cases in the southern hemisphere occur in the first half of the year, and most cases in the northern hemisphere occur in the second half of the year,” Baldwin said. “So far this year we have seen a spike in cases in the south, and we now expect an increase in cases in the north. »

The increase in dengue can be attributed to several factors, according to PAHO, including rising temperatures, extreme weather events, rapid population growth, and insufficient water and sanitation services, which can create mosquito breeding sites.

So far in 2024, the Americas have reported 1,858 deaths from the disease, fewer than last year’s total of 2,418.

A dengue vaccine is available and may play a role in reducing severe cases and deaths, Barbosa said, but he cautioned that it is not capable of immediately halting outbreaks.

To try to control the outbreak, PAHO recommends implementing a strategy focused on surveillance, control of the mosquito vector that transmits the virus, and clinical management, Baldwin said.

“Although there is currently no specific treatment for dengue (at any clinical stage), most cases are mild. Early detection and access to appropriate medical care will reduce the likelihood of dying from severe dengue,” Baldwin added.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne virus that is spread primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is also known to carry several other viruses, such as yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention diseases (CDC). It causes flu-like symptoms and can lead to death in extreme cases.

The virus is endemic in more than 100 countries with tropical and subtropical climates, mainly in urban and semi-urban areas, according to the World Health Organization. It is also endemic in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.