The American continent is facing a dire situation as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warns of the worst dengue fever epidemic in history in 2024. With over 3.5 million infections and at least a thousand deaths, the continent is set to concentrate 80% of the world‘s dengue fever cases.
According to a report published by PAHO, in the first three months of the year, cases of dengue fever have increased significantly, reaching a number three times higher than that recorded in the same period of 2023. The report also highlights that the incidence of the disease has increased by 249% compared to last year and by 354% compared to the average of the last five years.
While cases have been reported in 18 countries on the continent, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay are the most affected countries. In Brazil alone, there were 2,323,150 confirmed cases of dengue fever as of March 27, with at least 830 deaths reported. In Paraguay, the number of dengue cases registered so far this year is 23 times higher than last year, with 160,900 infections reported in 2024 compared to around 6,900 in 2023. Similarly, Argentina saw a jump from 8,300 to 102,800 cases, with 43 and 69 deaths recorded in the two countries, respectively.
The situation is alarming and requires immediate attention and action from authorities to prevent further spread of the disease. PAHO urges countries to strengthen their efforts in controlling and preventing dengue fever to avoid a catastrophic outcome in 2024.