A wave of dengue cases has gripped the Americas this year. In Puerto Rico, it has become an epidemic, as cases continue to rise from the mosquito-borne illness that is one of the deadliest in the world.

As a result of this surge of cases, the local government of the US Caribbean territory has announced a public health emergency. Government health officials have already identified 549 cases of dengue across the island, with almost half of those cases being concentrated in the capital of San Juan.

"This year, cases of dengue have surpassed historical records," said the US territory's Health Secretary Carlos Mellado in a statement.

Dengue fever has had major outbreaks in several parts of the Americas, including Florida, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Peru, according to the Buenos Aires Times. Brazil was particularly hit hard by the mosquito-borne disease, so was Argentina, which saw dengue spread all over the country in record numbers as well.

Despite dengue reaching epidemic levels in Puerto Rico, there is still no immediate impact on travel to or from the US territory, which remains a popular tourist destination for many across the world. However, Secretary Mellado stated the health emergency declaration will be able to make it easier for them to access funding for detection and prevention to help control the spread.

Hundreds Hospitalized in Puerto Rico Over Dengue Epidemic

As dengue fever hits epidemic levels in Puerto Rico, the Associated Press reported that hundreds on the island have already been hospitalized, over 340 and rising to be exact.

Health officials in the US territory have already expressed their concerns as the number of cases has already reached over 500 before the first quarter even ended, almost reaching the halfway mark of last year's 1,293 cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that over 5 million dengue cases were reported worldwide last year. A vast majority of these cases, which has reached nearly 80% of all cases, came from the Western Hemisphere alone, with around 3 million cases so far this year alone.

It is noted that higher rainfall along with humidity and heat linked to climate change have contributed to a rise in cases, as mosquitoes need stagnant water in order to breed. More mosquitoes lead to the disease spreading even more.

Symptoms of Dengue Fever To Look Out For

Like all diseases, there are various symptoms to look out for, However, it should be noted that while some people can recover from getting sick from the disease in about a week, severe cases can lead to life-threatening emergencies.

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms to look out for include severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from your gums or nose, blood in your urine, stool or vomit, bleeding under the skin that might look like bruising, rapid breathing, fatigue, irritability, or restlessness.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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