A ProMED-mail post http://www.promedmail.org ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases http://www.isid.org Date: Mon 7 Oct 2024 Source: PAHO/WHO Epidemiological Alert [edited] https://www.paho.org/en/documents/epidemiological-alert-increase-dengue-cases-americas-region-7-october-2024
Due to the increase in dengue cases reported by countries of the Central American Isthmus and Mexico during 2024 and considering the beginning of the dengue season in South America, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) encourages Member States to continue their efforts in surveillance, early diagnosis, and timely care of dengue and other arbovirus cases, in order to prevent severe cases and deaths associated with these diseases, and, especially for countries in South America, to review their dengue response plans.
Summary of the situation in the Americas Region
———————————————–
In the Americas Region, the number of dengue cases recorded during the first half of 2024 exceeded the number of cases historically reported in a year, as compared to all previously recorded years. As of epidemiological week (EW) 36 of 2024, 47 countries and territories in the Americas Region have reported 11 732 921 dengue cases; this number is 2.5 times as high as the number of cases recorded throughout 2023, which was 4 594 823 dengue cases (Figure 1 [for all figures, see source URL]) (1). Between EW 1 and EW 36 of 2024, of the total reported dengue cases, 6 253 754 (53%) were laboratory confirmed. Of this total, 17 610 were characterized as severe dengue (0.15%) and 6650 fatal cases were recorded (case fatality rate of 0.057%) (1). Cases from 6 countries make up 97% of the fatal dengue cases in the Americas Region: Brazil with 5303 (82.4%), Argentina with 408 (6.1%), Peru with 234 (3.5%), Colombia with 131 (1.97%), Paraguay with 121 (1.8%), and Ecuador with 59 (0.88%) fatal dengue cases (1). All 4 serotypes of the dengue virus have been circulating in the Americas Region as of EW 36 of 2024. Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama report simultaneous circulation of the 4 serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). Additionally, Argentina, French Guiana, Peru, and Puerto Rico reported simultaneous circulation of DENV-1, DENV-2, and DENV-3 (1). Note: The rest of the posting provides regional data for Mexico, Central and South American countries, all of which have marked increases in cases this year. The medical situation is complicated further by the circulation of all 4 strains of DENV which when contracted serially can lead to serious hemorrhagic disease complications.