In a brand new epidemiological alert, the Pan American Well being Group (PAHO) stated greater than 11.7 million dengue circumstances have been reported from the Americas area this yr, and it urged nations in South America to strengthen their response plans as its new dengue season begins.
In a associated improvement, the San Diego County Division of Public Well being this week stated it’s investigating its first domestically acquired dengue case, which might deliver California’s complete this yr to 6.
All 4 serotypes circulating
The variety of dengue circumstances this yr is greater than double the quantity reported for all of 2023, which itself was a document yr, PAHO stated in an announcement.
In its full report, it stated dengue circumstances have continued to extend within the Central American isthmus and Mexico, because the South American area faces the beginning one other season.
Southern Cone nations have skilled a big surge, with circumstances up 250% in comparison with the identical interval in 2023. “Whereas the case fatality fee has remained comparatively low within the subregion, the opportunity of elevated circumstances may result in extra extreme outcomes and place a burden on well being programs,” PAHO stated, urging nations to organize well being amenities to handle bigger case numbers throughout peak transmission season.
All 4 serotypes are circulating in Americas nations, growing the chance of great sickness, it stated.
Of 6,650 deadly dengue circumstances reported from the Americas area to date, 97% have been from six nations: Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Paraguay, Ecuador.
California detects sixth native case
In an announcement, San Diego County well being officers stated the native case includes a affected person from Escondido, which is about 30 miles north of the town of San Diego.
The county started spraying for mosquitos at about 170 properties in Escondido. Aedes mosquitoes that unfold dengue have been first detected in San Diego County in 2014. Apart from the primary domestically acquired case, the county had detected 49 travel-related circumstances this yr.
Over the previous few weeks, Los Angeles County has reported 5 native dengue circumstances, together with a cluster of three from Baldwin Park.
