Dengue fever has been plaguing the Americas this year, and the World Health Organization (WHO) is already concerned as this year's numbers have already surpassed last year's record-high numbers, and 2024 has not even reached the halfway mark yet.

The WHO stated that the mosquito-borne viral illness remains a high-risk threat to public health in North America, South America, and the Caribbean. For this year alone, the UN health agency revealed that the number of cases in the Americas exceeded 7 million by the end of April. This has already surpassed the annual high of 4.6 million in 2023.

The numbers for the Americas this year alone are already nearing last year's global numbers, which saw more than 7.6 million dengue cases and approximately 3,000 deaths around the same period, according to Reuters.

The three hardest-hit countries by the dengue outbreak are all in South America, being Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. However, 46 countries have also reported a lot of dengue cases this year, including the big 3 of North America, which is the US, Canada, and Mexico.

The WHO is warning people to look for symptoms of dengue fever, which include headaches, vomiting, skin rashes, as well as muscle and joint pain. In more severe cases, it also includes severe hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding that can lead to death.

Dengue Fever Also Threatening the United States

Dengue fever used to be confined to the tropics. However, as the climate gets warmer, more and more cases have been reported in temperate North America. While South America is suffering from a massive and record-breaking outbreak, experts in North America are already issuing warnings.

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According to NBC News, the unusually wet and warm summer season brought by the weather phenomenon known as El Niño has created ideal conditions for Dengue-infected mosquitoes to proliferate. Experts are warning that the recent infections in North America could be a preview of what dengue fever will look like in the future.

"That's concerning for places where dengue hasn't occurred before in recent history: North America and Europe," warned Dr. Albert Ko, a professor of epidemiology of microbial diseases at the Yale School of Public Health. "We are definitely worried."

"We are also seeing dengue cause outbreaks at times when they usually don't occur," he added. "That gives us a snapshot of what we may see here in North America in the coming decades."

Pan American Health Organization Calls For Strengthened Dengue Prevention

With the bulk of the world's dengue cases being in the Americas, the region's health agency, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), has urged people in the region to strengthen preventive measures against the mosquito-borne illness.

PAHO issued an epidemiological alert last week and emphasized the importance of strengthening surveillance, diagnosis, and vector control actions. It also recommended that health services be prepared for the proper management of patients to prevent complications and avoid possible overcrowding.

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Written by: Rick Martin

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