The Central American country of Costa Rica has been battling an outbreak of dengue fever, both classic and hemorrhagic, for the past few years. This mosquito-transmitted virus continues to impact Costa Rica residents and visitors in 2024.
On February 2, 2024, the Costa Rica Health Ministry reported that 1,076 dengue cases led by Central Norte have been confirmed this year. Throughout 2023, there were about 24,914 dengue cases reported, a significant increase from the 7,485 patients in 2022.
Costa Rica is not alone in the Region of the Americas with the acceleration of dengue cases. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recently issued various dengue Risk Assessments that said dengue is endemic in most countries of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. In 2023, the Americas experienced a 57% increase in dengue cases compared to 2022. As of December 2023, the PAHO issued a Situation Report that assessed the risk of dengue outbreaks in the Americas as high at the regional level due to the widespread distribution of the Aedes spp. Mosquitoes.
In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued Travel Health Notices regarding dengue outbreaks in the Americas. The CDC reported on January 3, 2024, that there were 2,343 dengue cases reported by 52 U.S. jurisdictions during 2023. The CDC says dengue is endemic in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease, with two vaccines currently in use in the Americas and several dengue vaccine candidates in development in 2024.
