Overview

• The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reports 12.6 million suspected dengue cases and 7,700 deaths in 2024, marking a 200% increase in fatalities compared to 2023.
• Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico account for 90% of cases and 88% of deaths, while significant outbreaks are also reported in the Caribbean and parts of the U.S.
• PAHO attributes the surge to climate-related factors, including rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns, which expand mosquito habitats, as well as poor waste management and stagnant water.
• Children are disproportionately affected, with 70% of dengue-related deaths in Guatemala being children, and under-15s comprising over a third of severe cases in several countries.
• Vaccines are being rolled out in some nations but face limitations, with experts emphasizing preventive measures like eliminating mosquito breeding grounds as critical to controlling the outbreak.