Dengue hits the Americas hard and early
Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic as dengue cases surge
![Mosquitos tested for dengue in Argentina](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7NQxCUnECjMvJ2W8AjDoMY-415-80.jpg)
What happened
The Pan American Health Organization, the World Health Organization's regional offshoot, warned Thursday that dengue is walloping the Americas this year, with 3.5 million cases of the mosquito-borne virus and 1,000 deaths in three months, versus a record 4.5 million cases for all of 2023. Puerto Rico declared a dengue epidemic on Monday.
Who said what
The fast and widespread surge in dengue is "cause for concern," said PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa. Most of the cases are in Brazil and elsewhere in South America, where it is seasonably warm and wet, but "we are also seeing an uptick in cases" in Central America and the Caribbean, "where transmission is usually higher in the second half of the year," and in places with no history of dengue.
The commentary
The dry-season spread of dengue in the Caribbean, from "people traveling" and environmental changes, "is really kind of a heads up, a warning sign," Dr. Albert Ko, a Yale epidemiologist, said to The Washington Post.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
The PAHO is urging regional and national efforts to control dengue's spread and to treat patients early so the death rate stays low.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Red Speedo: a 'darkly comic' doping drama
The Week Recommends Lucas Hnath's play stars Finn Cole as a 'reptilian' swimmer determined to win at all costs
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
One Aldwych: where London's creative spirit takes centre stage
The Week Recommends This five-star Covent Garden hotel is the epitome of elegant independence
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Charlotte Dujardin and equestrianism's dark side
In the Spotlight Olympic gold medallist and dressage star's suspension over horse whipping brings abuse in horse sports back into the spotlight
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Roll-out of affordable malaria vaccine begins
Speed Read R21 is approved for babies and may save hundreds of thousands of lives
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Surgeon general calls gun violence a health crisis
Speed Read U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a first-of-its-kind advisory
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Infant deaths jumped in Texas after abortion ban
Speed Read Babies born in states with more abortion restrictions may be likelier to die within a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
India's toxic alcohol problem
Under the Radar Bootleggers add lethal methanol to illegal liquor to cheaply increase potency, leading to widespread casualties
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Should masks be here to stay?
Talking Points New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposed a mask ban. Here's why she wants one — and why it may not make sense.
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Syphilis cases continue to rise as the US faces an STI epidemic
Under the radar Prevention organizations are struggling to keep the numbers from escalating
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Gene variant shows promise slowing Alzheimer's
Speed Read A rare genetic trait called Christchurch could delay the onset of disease
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Engineered stone is bad for the lungs
Under the Radar Quartz comes at a cost
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published