Peru has declared a health emergency in response to a surge in dengue fever cases, with at least 32 deaths reported so far this year. The El Nino weather pattern has created favorable conditions for mosquitoes to breed and transmit the viral infection, leading to 31,300 recorded cases in the first eight weeks of the year.

Health Minister Cesar Vasquez emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that the country’s typical response to the disease has been overwhelmed by factors such as climate. The warm temperatures and heavy rainfall associated with the El Nino weather pattern have provided an ideal environment for mosquitoes to proliferate and become more frequent carriers of the disease.

The health emergency, declared in 20 of Peru’s 25 regions, will facilitate the expedited transfer of funds to affected areas and the deployment of medical personnel. Dengue fever, characterized by symptoms including fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and body aches, is primarily transmitted through bites from infected mosquitoes.