PAHO highlights increase in dengue, Oropouche, and avian influenza cases in the Americas, and advises control measures – PAHO/WHO
Washington, DC, December 10, 2024 (PAHO) — The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today reported on three communicable diseases that affect the Region of the Americas: dengue, Oropouche and avian influenza (H5N1). PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa expressed concern about the increase in cases in 2024, but emphasized effective strategies to control outbreaks and mitigate their impact.
Dengue: Historical epidemic in the Americas
This year, the region has faced the largest dengue epidemic since records began in 1980. Countries have reported more than 12.6 million cases, almost three times more than in 2023, including 21,000 severe cases and more than 7,700 deaths .
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico represent 90% of the cases and 88% of the deaths, with Brazil the highest percentage.
«Dengue is posing a greater risk than normal for children. In countries like Guatemala, 70% of dengue-related deaths have occurred in children,» said Dr. Barbosa during a press conference held today, highlighting that children under 15 years of age represent more than a third of serious cases in countries such as Costa Rica, Mexico and Paraguay.
The PAHO Director explained that the situation is linked to climatic events that favor the proliferation of mosquitoes, as well as unplanned urbanization, the accumulation of water around homes, and poor waste management, which creates messes. cultivation for the vector.
Despite the challenges, he insisted that «we are not powerless against dengue» and cited the implementation of PAHO’s Integrated Management Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Arboviral Diseases as a key effort to «keep cases relatively low.» serious and fatal illnesses through better patient management. «.
Dengue vaccines have been introduced in countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Peru, and Honduras plans to do so in 2025. However, Dr. Barbosa noted that «the current vaccine will not stop the spread of the virus in the short or medium term and will not provides immediate relief during an outbreak.»
Oropouche: geographic expansion of the virus
PAHO has also observed an increase in cases of the Oropouche virus, which is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and some species of mosquitoes. In 2024, more than 11,600 cases have been reported in 12 countries and territories in the region, mainly in Brazil. «Although the Oropouche outbreak is much smaller in scale than dengue, it requires our attention due to its increasing geographic spread» outside the Amazon basin, even in areas with no history of the disease, Dr. Barbosa said.
The possibility of mother-to-child transmission, including stillbirths and congenital anomalies, is being investigated. «Countries must strengthen their surveillance and continue sharing information. We must work beyond borders to monitor new cases and support health systems to respond,» emphasized the PAHO Director.
Avian influenza (H5N1): continuous surveillance in the Region
Regarding the H5N1 virus, also known as avian influenza, Dr. Barbosa reported that although the number of human cases is moderate, the impact on public health remains limited. He stated that «in 2024, 58 human cases have been reported in the United States and 1 in Canada. This contrasts with the three cases reported in the previous two years for the entire region.»
H5N1 is a virus commonly found in birds, but it is now infecting other species as well, such as dairy cattle in the United States. A total of 19 countries in the Americas have reported cases of H5N1 in animals this year, and two of those countries have confirmed cases in humans. The PAHO Director emphasized that surveillance is key to tracking the virus and understanding its evolution.
Dr. Barbosa called for continuing to strengthen cooperation between the human, animal and environmental health sectors to enable early detection and timely interventions in animals.
Regional collaboration is key to confronting outbreaks
The PAHO Director concluded the press conference by emphasizing the importance of collaboration between countries to address these challenges. «When countries share information, coordinate and support responses to diseases, lives are saved,» he stressed.
Dr. Barbosa stated that the Organization continues to work with countries in the region to strengthen their emergency response capabilities and ensure coordinated actions against current and future outbreaks.
