The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has just issued an epidemiological alert warning countries in the southern hemisphere about the need to prepare for a possible simultaneous increase in cases of dengue, in addition to other viruses, in order to effectively manage this situation. .
To this end, the health organization advocates the strengthening of health services since “it is essential to ensure adequate medical care, prevent complications and avoid saturation of health services.”
Dengue in the Americas, in numbers
So far in 2024, the Southern Cone has reported more than 6.1 million suspected cases of dengue, with the majority of these cases recorded in Brazil, representing an alarming increase of 333% compared to the same period 2023. In the Andean region, more than 334,000 suspected cases of dengue have been reported, an increase of 42% compared to the previous year.
“This is a cause for concern, since it represents three times more cases than those reported for this same date in 2023, a record year with more than 4.5 million cases reported in the region,” warned PAHO director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, in a public appearance.
Recently, at Florida International University (FIU), several health experts warned of the increase in this type of disease due to the increase in outbreaks of arbovirus.
Arboviral diseases, such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika, are spread through the bite of mosquitoes carrying the infection.
An emerging viral phenomenon
The infectious diseases epidemiologist at the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Diana Rojas, highlighted this emerging phenomenon. During her speech in Miami, Florida, she assured that “the outbreaks of arbovirus “They are now occurring in areas that have never experienced them before.”
In addition, it pointed to climate change as one of the main culprits for increases in arboviral diseases transmitted by mosquitoes around the world.
“These increasing temperatures are a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” she stated, convinced that “climate affects all the important traits for the growth, development and transmission of these diseases.”
Faced with this situation, global health experts urge governments to improve surveillance and monitoring of arbovirus to better understand and control the transmission. Along these lines, they emphasized “the importance of health promotion, such as the dissemination of available vaccines and information on how to prevent mosquito bites, with the aim of limiting the risk of arboviral diseases.”
What is the reason for the increase in cases?
PAHO has identified several factors that contribute to the spread of dengue, including climate change that is causing an increase in temperatures and the occurrence of increasingly intense climate events, such as the most recent El Niño phenomenon.
Added to these are rapid population growth and unplanned urbanization, which result in “precarious housing conditions and insufficient water and sanitation services,” creating environments conducive to the proliferation of mosquitoes.
In response to this threat, PAHO has issued nine epidemiological alerts in the last 12 months, offering guidance plans to its member states to strengthen dengue prevention and control.
However, “PAHO urges to maintain and reinforce surveillance, early diagnosis and timely treatment of dengue cases.” At the same time, it calls for national governments to implement an action plan to counteract the effects of this virus and be better prepared for the considerable increase in cases. “It is advocated to organize patient care service networks, with the aim of preventing complications and deaths,” they add.
PAHO has provided a series of key recommendations to address this situation. Among them, the importance of planning the effective use of available resources, which include personnel, equipment and medical supplies, stands out. This approach will allow a more efficient response to a possible simultaneous increase in cases of respiratory diseases and dengue.
Regarding this, it is also “requested to intensify communication campaigns to encourage community participation in reducing mosquito breeding sites and promoting the search for timely medical attention.”
Early identification of dengue cases
A crucial aspect highlighted by PAHO is the early identification and proper management of dengue cases. This is essential to reduce hospitalizations for severe dengue and alleviate the burden on the most complex levels of care, which will be focused on treating severe cases of respiratory virus infections. Early detection and treatment of dengue cases can make a big difference in the health system’s ability to manage multiple threats simultaneously.
A report from the Mayo Clinic points out that “diagnosing dengue fever can be complicated because its signs and symptoms can be easily confused with those of other diseases, such as chikungunya, Zika virus, malaria and typhoid fever.” .
“When you see your doctor, he or she will likely ask you questions about your medical history and travel. Be sure to describe your international trips in detail, including the countries you visited and the dates, as well as any contact you have had with mosquitoes,” they explain in a written communication sent to the Voice of America.
Additionally, the doctor may take a blood sample “for testing in a laboratory to detect evidence of infection with one of the dengue viruses,” which should help confirm the diagnosis and rule out other diseases with similar symptoms.
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