Dengue and severe dengue pose a public health problem in the tropical and subtropical areas of the Region of the Americas. During 2011, Member States reported 979,774 cases of dengue, of which 15,860 presented serious forms requiring hospitalization and 692 deaths. Historical data on the number of cases and deaths registered was surpassed this year with dengue outbreaks in Paraguay, Panama and in the countries and in the non-Hispanic Caribbean, such as Aruba, the Bahamas, and Saint Lucia. The introduction of Dengue 4 was also observed in Panama and in some states of Brazil where it had not previously circulated.

In light of this situation, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) reminds Member States, especially those located in the southern hemisphere of the recommendations to reduce morbidity, fatality and the social and economic burden generated by dengue outbreaks and epidemics.

Given the continued spread of chikungunya virus in the Americas, and the start of the period with higher dengue circulation in Central America and the Caribbean, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) advises Member States who have the vector mosquito of both viruses (Aedes aegypti), to increase vector density reduction efforts, based on the Dengue Integrated Management Strategy (Dengue-IMS), in addition to establishing and maintaining dengue and chikungunya case management capacity, and to implement effective public communication strategies to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

This brief update provides epidemiogical data for 2009 on reported dengue outbreaks in the various subregions of the Americas, by country and area within the affected country when deemed relevant, up to 3 April (EW 13) 2009. It also briefly describes the activities on which PAHO is working with the countries.

To date, the countries of the Region have reported a total of 626,268 cases of dengue, of which 14,149 were acute dengue, with 241 deaths and a regional case-fatality rate of 1.70%. The information in this update has been obtained from data provided by the ministries of health of PAHO Member States, either through reports sent to PAHO/WHO or from updates on their respective websites.

This brief report describes the situation of dengue in the Americas up to 5 March 2009, with descriptions on each subregion and country affected and a variety of tables and figures, along with technical cooperation offered by PAHO/WHO to combat the situation and what recommendations to follow.

Up to 6 February 2009 (Epidemiological Weeks/ EWs 1–5), reports indicate:

• 12,372 suspected cases of dengue.
• 1,326 confirmed cases of classic dengue.
• 55 suspected cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).
• 7 deaths under investigation.
• Fatality Rate: 12.7 %
• Serotypes identified: DEN 1 and 3

Departments affected: Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Tarija.  The increase in incidence is mostly concentrated in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

In the Region of the Americas, between epidemiological week (EW) 1 and EW 521 of 2019, a total of 3,139,335 cases of dengue have been reported (321.58 cases per 100,000 population), including 1,538 deaths. Of the total cases, 1,367,353 (43.6%) were laboratoryconfirmed and 28,169 (0.9%) were classified as severe dengue. The case-fatality rate was 0.049%.

 

 

Through this epidemiological alert PAHO/WHO calls for intensified measures to control dengue and an integrated response by matching all actions in space and time to achieve greater impact. The health sector should make every effort in the diagnosis and treatment of dengue patients to prevent deaths while strengthening the structures of vector control, based on the principle that is not given a response from a unique sector, but in a comprehensive manner involving all health institutions, other ministries, NGOs, the private sector and the general population.

Up to the date of this report, the countries of the Region reported a total of 146,006 cases of dengue, out of which 2,706 were severe dengue. A total of 79 deaths have been reported, with a Regional fatality rate of 2.9%. Specific sections of the report are devoted to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Paraguay, and Puerto Rico, including data and/or maps as well as indications of severity, serotypes in circulation, affected areas, and measures taken. The report also includes official recommendations for dengue prevention and control.

During the first semester of 2010, the epidemiological situation of dengue in the Region has displayed unstable behavior, with intense outbreaks of dengue in various countries of the Region. The climatological conditions have remained favorable for the proliferation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito – its transmitting agent – while certain unusual alterations have been observed in its seasonality, where, since the beginning of the year, Central American countries and Caribbean islands have been affected during periods that are considered unusual.

In the Region of the Americas, between epidemiological week (EW) 1 and EW 301 of 2019, a total of 2,029,342 cases of dengue (207.9 cases per 100,000 population) have been reported, including 723 deaths. Of the total cases, 846,342 (42%) were laboratory-confirmed and 12,268 (0.6%) were classified as severe dengue. The reported case-fatality rate was 0.04%.

 

From 1 January to 26 March, 2008, the Brazilian health authorities have reported 406 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), with 34 deaths nationally.

 • 630,356 registered cases of dengue
• 12,147 cases of dengue hemorrhagic
• 183 deaths
• Fatality rate: 1.5%
• Countries That Reported Dengue Outbreaks to the PAHO Regional Program on Dengue:

o Costa Rica
o Guadeloupe
o Guyana
o Honduras
o Martinique
o Puerto Rico

The Paraguayan government has continued the epidemiological alert throughout the national territory, in light of recent cases of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic (DH)

Up to Epidemiological Week (EW) 3, 20 January 2007, the following was reported: 21,444 cases of dengue, which represents an increase of 20% when compared with the same period in 2006 (preliminary results, seeing that the states of Amazonas, Roraima and Rio Grande so Sul have not sent information), 11 cases of dengue hemorrhagic (DH), 3 deaths.

Up to Epidemiological Week (EW) 10 (7 March 2007), the following has been reported, following up on the outbreak notice published on 12 February 2007: 53,146 cases of dengue, 27 cases of dengue hemorrhagic (DH), 6 deaths, serotype in circulation: DEN-3, most affected state: Mato Grosso do Sul (with 52% of all cases).

The Minister of Health of Cuba, Dr. José Ramón Balaguer, informed the PAHO/WHO Country Office in Cuba of the presence of a classic dengue outbreak affecting four provinces in Cuba, with 9% of the cases among children.

The government of El Salvador declared a state of emergency in several regions of the country, including San Salvador, in their response to dealing with the dengue epidemic that has already taken the lives of two children.

As of 8 February 2007, the epidemiological alert issued by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare of Paraguay (MSPBS) has been in effect throughout the entire country, in view of cases of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic (DH). To date, there have been 3 fatal cases of DH.

In March 2006, 49 neighborhoods in Asunción, were affected by a dengue outbreak. This comprised of fourteen health districts (Regiones Sanitarias or RSs).

On 15 January 2007 the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare of Paraguay (MSPBS) declared an epidemiological alert for the entire nation in light of the number of dengue cases and the real possibility of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) cases.

The nationwide epidemiological alert in Paraguayan continues, as per information provided by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare of Paraguay (MSPBS).

An increase in the transmission of dengue is currently being reported, with the greatest number of cases concentrated in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

 Current reports show an increase in the transmission of dengue, with the greatest number of cases concentrated in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.