Dengue cases in America exceed 5.2 million; outbreak exceeds annual record, PAHO warns

(CNN) — Dengue cases are on the rise in America. The number of cases reported this week exceeded 5.2 million, surpassing the annual record set in 2023, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

PAHO spokeswoman Ashley Baldwin told CNN on Thursday that as of Wednesday, there were 5,214,480 cases of dengue fever reported in America. In 2023, the total number of reported cases in the region was 4,572,765.

“We are in an emergency situation because of dengue fever,” PAHO director Jarbas Barbosa said at a press conference on Thursday.

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

In Peru, 20 of the country’s 25 regions are under health threat from the epidemic, which has topped 134,000 cases, according to government data this week.

The situation in some South American hotspots appears to have stabilized in recent weeks, 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. “We have seen a surge in cases in the south this year and we now expect more cases in the north.”

The rise in dengue incidence can be attributed to several factors, including rising temperatures, extreme weather events, rapid population growth, and inadequate water and sanitation services, which can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, PAHO said.

There have been 1,858 deaths from the disease in America so far in 2024, down from 2,418 last year.

Barbosa said there was a dengue vaccine that could help reduce severe cases and deaths, but he cautioned that it would not immediately stop outbreaks.

To try to control the outbreak, PAHO recommends a strategy focused on surveillance, mosquito control and clinical treatment, 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 health care will reduce the likelihood of dying from severe dengue,” Baldwin added.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne virus that is spread primarily through mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti, also known to transmit other viruses such as yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It causes flu-like symptoms and can cause death in extreme cases.

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