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2024 dengue outbreak in Latin America and the Caribbean

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2024 dengue outbreak in Latin America and the Caribbean
Aedes aegypti
DiseaseDengue fever
Virus strainDengue virus
Serotypes: DENV1, DENV2, DENV3 and DENV4
LocationMexico, North America (Florida only), Central America, South America, the Caribbean
Suspected cases‡11.5 million+
Severe cases8,361+
Deaths
4,500+
Fatality rate0.048%
Territories
South America: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia
Central America: Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala
North America: Mexico, United States (Florida only)
‡Suspected cases have not been confirmed by laboratory tests as being due to this strain, although some other strains may have been ruled out.

In the currently ongoing 2024 dengue outbreak in Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of reported infections surpassed historical records in several nations with a combined total of over 11.5 million suspected cases on 29 August 2024 and 4,500+ deaths.[1] 7,983+ severe cases from epidemiological week (EW) 19 were reported on 31 May 2024, while the 8,140,210 suspected cases at EW 19 reflect a 226% increase compared to 2023's outbreak up to EW 19, and a 416% increase compared to the annual average number of cases of the last 5 years.[2] Impacted countries include Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia in South America; Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Guatemala in Central America; and Mexico in North America.[3]

Causes

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A comprehensive multinational study published in Nature Communications found that climate change and increased human mobility were significant factors contributing to the rapid acceleration in the spread of dengue. Annual increases in temperatures, humidity levels, and rainfall amounts each provide more favorable conditions for the Aedes aegypti mosquito to breed and spread, and making it so previously unaffected regions gradually develop a climate more favorable for dengue spreading.[4]

The study also stated that rapid urbanization and population growth in cities led to poor urban planning, waste management, sanitation, and access to clean water further help incubate mosquito spread.[4]

Other studies indicate that the increased temperatures related to the El Niño weather pattern also contributed to the exceptionally high number of dengue fever cases and area covered.[5]

Outbreak

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Central America

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Four dengue virus serotypes: DENV1, DENV2, DENV3 and DENV4, were found to be simultaneously circulating in all of the impacted countries in Central America aside from El Salvador, which currently only had DENV1, DENV2, and DENV3 confirmed.[3]

Honduras

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The number of reported infections rapidly escalated in February to March to reach epidemic classification. The continued increase in rate of infection led to the national government issuing an epidemiological national emergency on 31 May 2024. As of 24 May 2024, based on a report made by the World Health Organization, 20,563 dengue cases were reported, of which 266 (1.29%) were classified as severe infections, with 27 deaths of which 11 deaths were confirmed to have been directly caused by the infection. From EW 19, there was a 445% increase in reported cases compared to EW 19 in Honduras's dengue outbreak in 2023, and 193% compared to the average number of annual dengue infections in the past 5 years. The greatest concentration of cases are currently ongoing in the departments of Tegucigalpa, Cortés, San Pedro Sula, Bay Islands, Atlántida, and La Paz.[6]

Reasons for the increase in cases from the prior year include logistical and personnel shortages in the national health secretariat, including shortages in chemical supplies, fumigation equipment, and vehicles. Another possible factor regards economic disparities in marginalized urban areas leading to delays in treatment allowing for the infection to spread in the densely populated environment. Poor waste management, water collection practices, and sanitation in part due to shortages of cleaning supplies prevented the disease from being contained.[6]

Guatemala

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From the beginning of 2024 to EW 14, 12,570 cases were reported in Guatemala, of which 1,086 were lab-confirmed cases and 20 were severe cases. The number of cases increased to 480% relative to EW 14 in 2023 and 599% compared to the annual average across the last 5 years. 9 deaths have been reported, with a fatality rate of 0.072%.[7]

Panama

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From the beginning of 2024 to EW 18, 5,882 dengue cases were reported, 4,141 (70%) were lab-confirmed, and 27 (0.45%) were severe cases. The number of cases increased to 155% relative to EW 18 in 2023, and 288% compared to the annual average across the last 5 years. 9 deaths have been reported, with a fatality rate of 0.153%.[7]

South America

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Argentina

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Main article: 2024 dengue epidemic in Argentina

Brazil

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At EW 19 in Late May, Brazil made up the vast majority of cases of dengue fever reported in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024, with 83% of suspected cases arising from Brazil, along with 79.4% of deaths. 6,803,727 cases were reported, and 2,897 deaths have been reported.[3]

Reasons for why Brazil has such a high number of cases include long-term underinvestment in water and sanitation infrastructure especially in poorer urban slums, forcing citizens to store water in open tanks that provides standing water for mosquitos to lay eggs in.[8]

In order to slow the spread of the disease and work to achieve herd immunity, Brazil preemptively purchased the entire global stock of Qdenga dengue two-dose vaccine made by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda in January 2024. However, only six million doses were planned to be created for 2024, which would only be enough to vaccinate 1.5% of the population of Brazil.[9]

Colombia

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From the beginning of 2024 to EW 11, Colombia reported 69,837 cases, an increase of 262% relative to the annual average of cases up to EW 11 across the last 5 years. 9 deaths have been reported. The cumulative incidence rate was reported as 136 cases per 100,000 people.[7]

Ecuador

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From the beginning of 2024 to EW 11, Ecuador reported 13,075 cases, an increase of 277% relative to the annual average of cases up to EW 11 across the last 5 years, and a cumulative incidence rate was reported as 136 cases per 100,000 people.[7] By EW 19, 31 deaths were reported.[3]

Peru

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79,741 cases were reported from EW 1 to EW 11, a 471% increase relative to the 5-year average at EW 11 with a cumulative incidence rate of 239 cases per 100,000 people.[7]

Mexico

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65,758 cases of dengue fever have been reported up to EW 19 in Mexico, accounting for 0.8% of total cases in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024. 405 severe cases and 20 deaths have been reported so far in Mexico, with a fatality rate of 0.03%. DENV1, DENV2, DENV3 and DENV4 serotypes have been detected in Mexico.[3] The states with the most cases were Guerrero, Tabasco, and Quintana Roo, as of EW 11.[7]

Caribbean

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From the beginning of 2024 to EW 19, 21,458 suspected cases were reported, 3,633 (16.9%) were lab-confirmed, and 111 (0.51%) were severe cases. The number of cases increased to 468% relative to EW 19 in 2023. DENV1, DENV2, and DENV3 serotypes have been proven to be circulating in the region.[3]

Statistical data

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South America

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Territory Suspected Cases Deaths Proportion of Suspected Cases Proportion of Deaths[3]
Brazil 6,803,727 2,897 83% 79.4%
Argentina 475,743 325 6.0% 9.0%
Paraguay 266,816 91 3.3% 2.5%
Peru 222,950 174 2.7% 4.7%
Colombia 137,175 62 1.6% 1.6%
Ecuador 13,075 (EW 11)[7] 31 (EW 19) 0.8%

Central America

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Territory Suspected Cases Confirmed Cases Severe Cases Deaths Yearly increase in suspected cases[3]
Honduras 20,563 1,248 (6.0%) 266 (1.29%) 27 (0.131%) 445%
Guatemala 12,570 1,086 (8.6%) 20 (0.16%) 9 (0.072%) 480%
Panama 5,882 4,141 (70%) 27 (0.45%) 9 (0.153%) 155%

Honduras

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State Number of Cases[10]
Tegucigalpa 551
Cortés 409
San Pedro Sula 355
La Paz 128
Atlántida 115

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Osborn, Catherine (2024-06-20). "Dengue Surge Grips Latin America". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  2. ^ "Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 7 June 2024 - Brazil | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2024-06-07. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Epidemiological Alert - Start of peak dengue season in the Central American Isthmus, Mexico, and the Caribbean - 24 May 2024 - Guatemala | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  4. ^ a b "Technology and Public Health Needed to Combat Growing Dengue Threat in Brazil and Mexico". LatinAmerican Post. 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  5. ^ Clifton, Mizy (2024-06-06). "Brazil is in the grip of a dengue fever outbreak with no end in sight | Semafor". www.semafor.com. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  6. ^ a b "Honduras: Dengue Epidemic, DREF Operation (MDRHN023) - Honduras | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Epidemiological Update - Increase in dengue cases in the Region of the Americas - 29 March 2024 - Peru | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2024-03-29. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  8. ^ "Brazil is in the grip of a dengue fever outbreak with no end in sight | Semafor". www.semafor.com. 2024-06-06. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  9. ^ Nolen, Stephanie (2024-04-11). "The Push for a Better Dengue Vaccine Grows More Urgent". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  10. ^ "Honduras: Epidemia - 05-2024 - Dengue #2 (2024-05-31) - Honduras | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
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