A devastating dengue fever epidemic is ravaging Latin America and the Caribbean faces , with a record-high number of cases and deaths reported this year.
The World Health Organization’s Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) has confirmed over 7,700 dengue-related deaths in the region, a staggering triple-digit increase from the 2,467 deaths reported in 2023.
The alarming surge in dengue cases has been directly linked to climate change, with rising temperatures, droughts, and flooding creating ideal breeding conditions for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector of the disease.
The region’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters has exacerbated the outbreak, highlighting the urgent need for sustained surveillance, prevention, and control measures.
Brazil accounts for 83% of suspected cases and 79.4% of deaths in the region, while Argentina reports 475,743 suspected cases and 325 deaths. Honduras has seen a 445% increase in suspected cases compared to the same period in 2023.
The PAHO has emphasized the need for collective action to combat the outbreak, urging governments, healthcare systems, and communities to work together to prevent and control the spread of dengue fever.
