Mosquito Awareness Week: PAHO Director urges strengthened surveillance and vector control – PAHO/WHO

Washington DC 7 May 2025 (Pah) – As Mosquito Awareness Week Kicks off in the Americas, Pan American Health Organization Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, you have street on ministries of health in the region, to increase Surveillance and Lead the Charge Towards Mosquito-Transmitted Viruses Such as dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya.

«Climate change has contributed to an increase in favorable areas for the spread of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito and, consequently, to the increase in arboviral diseases in the region of the Americas,» said the director of the PAHO. The accelerated growth of urban areas, water storage due to inappropriate water supply with pipes and the poor management of solid waste are also factors that increase reproduction sites.

Dengue is currently one of the main threats to public health in the Americas, and cases increase dramatically in recent years. In 2024, the countries of the region reported more than 13 million suspicious cases, a 283% increase in cases compared to 2023 and 356% higher than the average number of cases reported in the last 5 years,

Chikungunya cases are also increasing, with 431,223 cases reported during 2024, compared to 411,560 cases in 2023.

Although there have been no recent outbreaks of Zika, the virus continues to circulate, with 44,242 cases reported in 2024, compared to 37,659 cases in 2023.

These viruses directly affect people’s quality of life, causing high fever, intense pain, general discomfort and, in severe cases, potentially fatal complications. Diseases can be especially dangerous for children, older and pregnant people and those with pre -existing conditions.

But the impact of these diseases «is not limited only to physical symptoms and deaths,» added Dr. Barbosa. «It also affects the productivity and general well -being of people due to their absence of work and school, and can generate a significant economic burden for both families and public health systems.»

Therefore, it is crucial that the Ministries of Health «promote and strengthen intersectoral work in the fight against mosquitoes,» said the director of the PAHO, which involves public and private institutions and integrates efforts in areas beyond the health sector, such as education, sanitation, urban development and communication.

«When we join strength to combat mosquitoes in a timely and coordinated way, we can prevent outbreaks, save lives and improve people’s living conditions,» he concluded.

The Mosquito Awareness Week, held this year from May 5 to 9, is an effort led by the country and the territory in the region of the Americas. Its objective is to raise awareness about the connection between mosquitoes and diseases they transmit, and work with the community to avoid mosquito breeding. This year’s theme is «United for Health».