According to the head of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dengue cases in the Americas surged in the first quarter of this year, tripling the number of infections reported during the same period last year. Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay are the countries most severely impacted by the outbreak, which PAHO officials warned could be the worst in the region’s history for the deadly mosquito-borne viral illness.
Dr. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva, PAHO director, expressed concerns during a webcast press conference, stating, “Probably this will be the worst dengue season that we will have.” PAHO, a United Nations agency, has recorded over 3.5 million cases of dengue and more than 1,000 deaths across the Americas through March this year.
Barbosa da Silva highlighted that the region reported approximately 4.5 million cases throughout all of 2023, indicating that the Americas are on track for a record number of cases this year. Approximately 4 billion people, or half the world’s population, reside in areas where there is a risk of contracting dengue, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Barbosa da Silva emphasized the need for intensified efforts by public health officials across the region to address the outbreak. This includes enhancing vector control measures and providing training for personnel to identify severe symptoms that patients may exhibit.
Dengue symptoms encompass fever, headaches, vomiting, skin rashes, as well as muscle and joint pain. In severe cases, it can lead to hemorrhagic fever, causing bleeding that may prove fatal. Most dengue cases typically occur between February and May, during the late summer months in the Southern Hemisphere.
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