Infographic by Pan American Health Organization
by 501Publicized Staff
BELIZE, Tues. April 2, 2024 – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is calling for collective action to response to increased cases of Dengue with Latin America and the Caribbean. PAHO Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa in a press conference last week called for community engagement across all sectors of society to address this rising issues.
So far, , over 3.5 million cases and more than 1,000 deaths have been reported in the region according to PAHO.
This is a cause for concern, Dr. Barbosa says, because it represents three times more cases than were reported during the same period in 2023.
Cases have surged in Latin American and the Caribbean but the hardest-hit countries are Brazil (83%), Paraguay (5.3%), and Argentina (3.7%), which account for 92% of cases and 87% of deaths.
Dr. Barbosa said that “we are also seeing an uptick in cases in countries such as Barbados, Costa Rica, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Martinique and Mexico, where transmission is usually higher in the second half of the year.”
According to PAHO, several environmental conditions, including the current El Niño phenomenon contributes to the spread of dengue.
Rising concerns are that some countries – where the presence of the mosquito vector and cases are being detected in new geographical areas – may not be prepared to face an increase in transmission.
The release from PAHO states that its director, “called for action, urging intensified efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and protect against mosquito bites, increase preparedness in health services for early diagnosis and timely clinical management, and continuous work to educate the population about dengue symptoms and when to seek prompt medical attention.”