The Dengue Epidemic in South America: A Growing Crisis
Rio de Janeiro, February 28, 2024 – The situation with dengue in South America is worsening as cases continue to increase in many countries across the region. In Argentina, the number of infections has reached a staggering 57,210 since July of last year, with most cases being endemic. Meanwhile, in Mexico, there have been 5,439 cases reported, which is five times higher than the same period in 2023. A significant portion of these cases, 40%, are concentrated in the state of Guerrero, where conditions created by Hurricane Otis have fueled the outbreak.
The situation is equally dire in Brazil, where in just the first two months of the year, there have been over one million infections and 200 deaths. This is a significant increase compared to 2023 when there were 149 deaths in total. Several states including the Federal District, Acre, Goias, Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and Santa Catarina have declared a state of emergency. In response, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has launched the D-Day campaign to raise awareness about prevention measures and has allocated 1.5 billion reais to local administrations to combat the epidemic.
Peru has also been severely affected, with 31 thousand cases reported and alerts declared in 20 out of 25 regions. The Minister of Health, César Vásquez Sánchez, has warned that March and April will be the most challenging months ahead. However, the country has recorded relatively fewer deaths with only 32 so far. The government is implementing preventive measures such as increasing the training of healthcare personnel, conducting house-to-house disinfestation, and using drones to identify breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Dengue fever is transmitted to humans through the bite of a mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person, highlighting the importance of prevention efforts. South American countries are taking proactive measures to control the spread of the virus and mitigate the impact on public health. The region is also awaiting the arrival of an anti-dengue vaccine from the Pan American Health Organization to further combat the epidemic.
The battle against dengue in South America continues, with governments and health authorities working tirelessly to contain the outbreak and protect their populations from this dangerous virus.