The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued a warning in response to a record surge in dengue cases across Latin America and the Caribbean. PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa announced that as of March 26, the region had already seen over 3.5 million cases of dengue, with over 1,000 deaths reported.
This alarming increase represents three times more cases than the same period in 2023, which was previously a record year with more than 4.5 million cases. The hardest-hit countries in Latin America include Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, where mosquitoes have flourished due to warm and rainy weather.
In response to the growing crisis, the United States has been issuing health alerts in various countries throughout the region. People are advised to cover their arms and legs, use mosquito repellent, and avoid stagnant water to prevent mosquito bites.
Puerto Rico has declared a dengue public health emergency, with a significant surge in cases reported in the capital city of San Juan. Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, with symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening.
Common symptoms of dengue include fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting, rash, and body pain. PAHO is calling for community engagement to combat the dengue problem, emphasizing the need to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, protect against mosquito bites, and increase preparedness in health services.
Educating the population about dengue symptoms and when to seek medical attention is crucial in controlling the spread of the disease. With the number of cases continuing to rise, efforts to address the dengue outbreak must be intensified to protect public health in the region.
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