BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) continues to stress the need for vigilance as the Americas face outbreaks of transmissible diseases, including dengue, Oropouche fever, and avian influenza (H5N1).
During a press conference yesterday (Dec. 10) in Washington, D.C., PAHO released statistics on the impact of these diseases across the Americas region. Dengue emerged as the most prevalent illness, with over 12.6 million cases reported in 2024. This figure represents a nearly threefold increase compared to 2023, with 21,000 severe cases and more than 7,700 deaths.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It can cause severe symptoms and has resurfaced in several countries across the Americas, including St. Kitts and Nevis, after being dormant in many areas.
PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa attributed the rise in cases to factors such as climate change, poor waste management, and urbanization.
Large countries in Latin America and South America account for the majority of cases in the Americas, with data pointing to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico collectively represent 90% of cases and 88% of dengue-related deaths, with Brazil reporting the highest numbers.
Dr. Barbosa highlighted the particular vulnerability of children, stating: “Dengue is posing a higher-than-normal risk to children. In countries like Guatemala, 70% of dengue-related deaths have occurred in children."
In the Caribbean, where economies are heavily dependent on tourism, outbreaks like dengue and Oropouche fever can significantly affect visitor perceptions. When asked by SKNVibes News about mitigating disruptions, Dr. Thais dos Santos, Advisor for Surveillance and Control of Arboviral Diseases at PAHO, emphasized that the strategies for managing these diseases remain consistent across nations, regardless of their economic structure.
"I think that the strategies for preventing the disease and controlling the disease are not different from economies that are not based on other sectors. I think that the recipes are the same, which is an attempt to reduce transmission, and for those persons who develop the disease to prevent them from becoming severe cases and deaths.,” Dr. dos Santos said.
She also advised prioritizing data collection to combat outbreaks in regions frequented by tourists. “This is not to say that schools and health care facilities and other places should not also be prioritized for circulation. Because the transmission is slowed down in the population , in general it would be slowed down among tourists,” she added.
In St. Kitts and Nevis, 245 cases of dengue were reported, with 59 confirmed through laboratory testing.
Meanwhile, PAHO reported a rise in cases of the Oropouche virus, transmitted by infected midges and certain mosquito species. Data for 2024 shows 11,600 cases across 12 countries and territories, with Brazil accounting for the majority. Alarmingly, cases are now being detected outside the Amazon region, in areas where the virus has traditionally been uncommon.
Additionally, PAHO is closely monitoring the spread of avian influenza (H5N1), with 58 cases reported in the United States and Canada combined.
