Latin America and Caribbean Face Record Dengue Outbreak, Prompting Widespread Health Alerts

With over 3.5 million cases and 1,000 deaths already, health officials attribute the surge to climate change and urge proactive measures.

A record surge in dengue cases across Latin America and the Caribbean has prompted health warnings, with more than 3.5 million cases and over 1,000 deaths reported.
The Pan American Health Organization attributes the unprecedented outbreak to global warming and the El Niño climate phenomenon, expecting this to be the worst dengue season on record.
Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina are the most affected, accounting for 92% of the cases and 87% of the deaths, with mosquitoes thriving due to warm and rainy weather.
Puerto Rico declared a public health emergency amid a spike in dengue cases, with 549 cases recorded this year, marking a 140% increase over the previous year.
Health officials emphasize the need for community engagement, urging efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, protect against mosquito bites, and increase preparedness in health services.