The American continent is facing the largest dengue epidemic since regional records began in 1980, with 12.6 million documented cases, almost three times more than in 2023, as reported with concern by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Tuesday.
Severe cases have exceeded 21,000 and deaths have surpassed 7,700, as specified by the regional agency. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico account for 90% of the cases and 88% of the deaths, with Brazil leading the numbers.
PAHO pointed out that dengue poses a greater risk than usual for children, citing the example of Guatemala, where 70% of dengue-related deaths have been children. The organization’s director, Jarbas Barbosa, noted that children under 15 years old make up more than a third of dengue cases in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Paraguay.
Climatic events and unplanned urbanization contribute to the dengue epidemic
During a press conference, Barbosa stated that the increase in dengue is related to climatic events that favor mosquito proliferation, as well as unplanned urbanization, water accumulation, and poor waste management. These factors create breeding grounds for the vector, he pointed out.
Despite the advancement of the dengue epidemic, Latin America and the Caribbean are not defenseless against dengue, stated Barbosa, referring to the PAHO’s Integrated Management Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Arboviral Diseases, a key effort to keep severe and fatal cases relatively low through better patient management.
Brazil, Argentina, and Peru have already introduced dengue vaccines, and Honduras will do so in 2025. “But the current vaccine will not stop the virus spread in the short or medium term and does not provide immediate relief during an outbreak,” warned Barbosa, urging health authorities in the region to implement effective prevention measures, such as using repellents to avoid mosquito bites.
The Oropouche virus and Avian Influenza
Barbosa also mentioned the Oropouche virus and avian influenza, two diseases whose cases are increasing in Latin America. PAHO has received 11,600 notifications of Oropouche cases this year, a virus transmitted by infected midges and some mosquito species. Oropouche patients have been reported in twelve countries and territories in the region, especially in Brazil.
Barbosa emphasized that although the outbreak is much smaller in scale than dengue, “it requires our attention due to its growing geographical expansion” beyond the Amazon Basin, including areas with no previous history of this disease. Currently, the possibility of mother-to-child transmission is being investigated, including fetal deaths and congenital anomalies.
Regarding the H5N1 virus, which causes avian influenza, the PAHO head pointed out that the number of cases in humans is moderate, with a limited impact on public health. In 2024, 58 human cases have been reported in the United States and one in Canada, a low number but significantly higher than the total of three documented cases in the previous two years across the entire continent.
H5N1 is a virus commonly found in birds; however, it is infecting other species such as dairy cattle in the United States. In total, 19 American countries have reported H5N1 cases in animals this year, and two of those countries have confirmed cases in humans. “Surveillance is key to track the virus and understand its evolution,” Barbosa pointed out.
Strengthening international cooperation
The PAHO director urged for strengthening cooperation among human, animal, and environmental health sectors to enable early detection and timely interventions in animals.
Collaboration between countries is crucial to address the challenges posed by the three diseases, Barbosa insisted, arguing that when countries “share information, coordinate, and support disease responses, lives are saved.”
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