The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned this Thursday that the countries of the southern cone of America, especially Brazil, Argentina and Paraguaythey could be in the anteroom of your worst dengue outbreak season in history having far exceeded the number of infections in 2023 for this period of the year.
During 2024, the regional body of the World Health Organization reported more than 3.5 million cases of dengue in America and more than 1,000 deathsa figure that triple those of the first quarter of last year.
“This will probably be the worst dengue season we will have in the region”said Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO, in a press conference.
“This is why we have to redouble our efforts to take more actions, control contagion vectors and train health workers so that they can detect the most severe symptoms,” added the specialist.
Photo: Photo NA/REUTERS/Agustín Marcarian
Last year, America recorded more than 4.5 million cases of the mosquito-borne disease, setting a record for a condition endemic in much of Latin America.
Since the end of last year, the WHO has already declared a situation of global emergency due to the spread of the diseasebut at the moment it has not issued a global public health alert, as happened with the Zica virus disease in 2016.
Los symptoms dengue fever include high fever, headache, vomiting, and muscle and joint pain. In some cases, the disease can cause a more severe hemorrhagic fever, which can cause death.
For Fernán Quirós, “the city of Buenos Aires still does not meet the conditions to apply the dengue vaccine“
Climatic conditions favor the spread of the virus
PAHO explained that the extreme weather conditions and the presence of the El Niño phenomenon still this year are exacerbating conditions for mosquito spread dengue vector, prolonging the transmission season and geographic areas of infection.
“We are observing the proliferation of the mosquito vector in areas where it had not been reported before,” said Barbosa, referring to large cities in the southern cone that are suffering in recent months. intense heat waves or floods caused by El Niño.
Floods and droughts: the El Niño phenomenon could prolong food inflation
According to the agency’s data, Brazil continues to lead the number of infections in America with almost 3 million cases and more than 750 deathswhile Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru have experienced serious outbreaks of the disease that put their authorities on alert.
In February, Brazil became the first country in the world to incorporate a national dengue vaccination.
CA / ED