A brigade fumigates to fight dengue amid a surge in instances nationwide in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photograph/Natacha Pisarenko)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Dengue is surging throughout the Americas early this yr from Puerto Rico to Brazil, with 3.5 million instances of the tropical illness reported to date, well being officers mentioned Thursday.
That tally is 3 times the variety of instances reported at this level final yr, mentioned Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of the Pan American Well being Group, the regional workplace of the World Well being Group within the Americas.
Final yr, there were a record 4.5 million cases within the area, and PAHO officers mentioned they anticipate this yr will set a brand new document.
Often dengue spikes in the course of the moist season, which continues to be months away. And a few areas are reporting dengue for the primary time, officers mentioned.
The dengue virus is unfold to individuals when they’re bitten by contaminated mosquitoes. Driving the surge are rising temperatures, speedy urbanization, droughts and floods linked to local weather change, and poor sanitation and a scarcity of sturdy well being programs in some nations, well being officers mentioned.
The virus may cause crushing complications, fever, vomiting, a rash and different signs. Whereas most contaminated individuals don’t get signs, extreme instances can result in dying. There’s no particular remedy aside from ache drugs.
A lot of the present instances are within the Southern Hemisphere, with greater than 80% in Brazil, adopted by Paraguay, Argentina, Peru and Colombia. Some 1,000 deaths have been reported within the Americas to date this yr.
Within the Caribbean alone, greater than 25,000 instances have been reported, with French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic most affected, mentioned Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, PAHO’s assistant director.
On Monday, Puerto Rico’s health secretary declared an epidemic, with greater than 540 instances, with no less than 341 individuals hospitalized. The numbers are regarding as a result of components of the island are presently beneath a average drought, and the rainiest month isn’t till August.
The surge in instances compelled Rio de Janeiro to declare a public health emergency last month forward of Carnival. Peru did the same for most of its provinces, and others have adopted go well with.
There are 4 completely different dengue viruses circulating within the Americas, mentioned the PAHO’s Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri. “We now have to be ready for this.”
Some nations have launched specifically bred mosquitoes that contain a bacteria called Wolbachia that fights dengue.
Final month, Josian Bruno, who lives within the San Juan capital of Puerto Rico, developed a fever and physique aches. A lab take a look at confirmed that the 38-year-old had kidney failure due to extreme dehydration. He spent six days within the hospital, and the day after being launched, his take a look at outcomes got here again optimistic for dengue.
“After they inform you it’s renal failure, that’s scary,” he mentioned.
A month has handed, and Bruno nonetheless has problem shifting his arms and strolling, and he hasn’t been capable of resume his thrice-weekly runs.
Whereas a brand new dengue vaccine is offered in restricted provide, it requires two doses with a three-month interval. Barbosa mentioned officers are monitoring how properly it really works. He mentioned a single-shot vaccine gained’t be obtainable till subsequent yr.
