In a new epidemiological alert, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said more than 11.7 million dengue cases have been reported from the Americas region this year, and it urged countries in South America to strengthen their response plans as its new dengue season begins.
In a related development, the San Diego County Department of Public Health this week said it is investigating its first locally acquired dengue case, which would bring California’s total this year to six.
All four serotypes circulating
The number of dengue cases this year is more than double the number reported for all of 2023, which itself was a record year, PAHO said in a statement.
In its full report, it said dengue cases have continued to increase in the Central American isthmus and Mexico, as the South American region faces the start another season.
Southern Cone countries have experienced a significant surge, with cases up 250% compared to the same period in 2023. “While the case fatality rate has remained relatively low in the subregion, the possibility of increased cases could lead to more severe outcomes and place a burden on health systems,” PAHO said, urging countries to prepare health facilities to manage larger case numbers during peak transmission season.
All four serotypes are circulating in Americas countries, increasing the risk of serious illness, it said.
Of 6,650 fatal dengue cases reported from the Americas region so far, 97% were from six countries: Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Paraguay, Ecuador.
California detects sixth local case
In a statement, San Diego County health officials said the local case involves a patient from Escondido, which is about 30 miles north of the city of San Diego.
The county began spraying for mosquitos at about 170 homes in Escondido. Aedes mosquitoes that spread dengue were first detected in San Diego County in 2014. Aside from the first locally acquired case, the county had detected 49 travel-related cases this year.
Over the past few weeks, Los Angeles County has reported five local dengue cases, including a cluster of three from Baldwin Park.
