Peru Faces Escalating Dengue Fever Crisis with Health Emergency Declared

Over 32,000 infections and 32 deaths in the first two months of 2024 as El Niño exacerbates mosquito breeding conditions.

Peru has declared a health emergency in 20 of its 25 regions due to a significant increase in dengue fever cases, with over 32,000 people infected and 32 deaths recorded in the first eight weeks of 2024.
The surge in dengue cases is attributed to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has created hotter and wetter conditions favorable for mosquito breeding.
Hospitals in the northern regions of Puira and La Libertad are overwhelmed, prompting the government to expedite fund transfers and deploy additional medical personnel to affected areas.
The incidence of dengue is highest in coastal areas vulnerable to El Niño, with the disease's spread facilitated by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
Last year, Peru experienced its worst-ever dengue outbreak, with more than 400 deaths and 270,000 infections, highlighting the escalating challenge of dengue fever in the region.