On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Puerto Rico declared a public health emergency due to the surge of dengue, a mosquito-borne illness that has been spreading across the Americas. The US territory, with a population of 3.2 million people, has reported 549 cases of dengue, with a significant portion of the cases concentrated in the capital city of San Juan. Dengue, also known as ‘breakbone fever,’ can lead to symptoms such as headaches, soreness, fever, and rashes, and in severe cases, it can be fatal.

Health Secretary Carlos Mellado stated that this year’s dengue cases have exceeded historical records, prompting the emergency declaration. The declaration is expected to facilitate access to funding for detection and prevention efforts, although it does not immediately impact travel to or from Puerto Rico.

Furthermore, dengue outbreaks have been widespread in various parts of the Americas, including Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, and even in some areas of the United States. In Argentina, the National Health Minister, Mario Russo, along with health officials from the country’s 24 jurisdictions, convened to assess the virus’s spread within the nation. The current season has seen a record number of cases, with 151,310 individuals affected and 106 confirmed deaths, surpassing the total cases reported last year.

The situation has raised concerns and prompted urgent measures to address the dengue outbreak across the region. With the increasing impact of dengue on public health, authorities and health organizations are intensifying efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus and provide necessary support and resources to the affected areas.