The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a red alert for Latin America due to the unstoppable advance of denguewhich has seen an alarming 50% increase in recorded cases so far this year.
According to the latest report published on April 18 by PAHO, The region has exceeded 5.2 million infectionsa significant increase from the 3.5 million reported at the end of March.
PAHO director Jarbas Barbosa described the situation as a “emergency“, highlighting that countries like Argentina and Brazil are being hit hard by the outbreak.
Despite some signs of stabilization or reduction in recent days, the severity of the situation persists, with more than 1,800 dengue-related deaths so far this year.
The report reveals that Brazil is the most affected country so far, with more than 3.2 million confirmed cases and 1,385 deaths attributed to the virus. However, health authorities warn that the real number of cases could be even higher, as almost 2,000 deaths are currently under investigation. Ethel Maciel, Secretary of Health Surveillance in Brazil, suggests that cases could rise to 4.2 million in the worst possible scenario.
On the other hand, Argentina also faces a critical situation, with 187 deaths and more than 252,000 confirmed cases to date. Despite the severity of the outbreak, there has been a decrease in the number of cases reported in recent weeks, offering a ray of hope in the fight against the disease.
Mass vaccination against dengue is presented as a challenge, since access to the vaccine in the region is limited. Barbosa warns that although the vaccine could play a crucial role in reducing deaths, it will take time to see its impact on decreasing cases.
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