Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic as the number of dengue fever cases continues to soar in the U.S. territory.
At least 549 cases have been reported and more than 340 people are hospitalized, according to Puerto Rico’s Department of Health.
“As of March 21, 2024, the Ministry of Health’s disease epidemiology survey observed a 140% increase in the number of dengue fever cases in Puerto Rico compared to the same period last year,” the Ministry of Health said in a translated release. mentioned in.
Puerto Rico Health Secretary Carlos Mellado López said in a post on X that he is monitoring the rise in dengue cases.
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Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic following a spike in cases of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne virus on the rise in the Western Hemisphere. (St. Petersburg)
“With the number of dengue cases increasing, all components of society need to work together to prevent the infection and spread of this virus. That’s why,” Mellado López said in a translated post. We are appealing for prevention.”
On February 28th, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 1 travel warning for U.S. travelers traveling abroad.
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The ministry noted that the following countries have reported an increase in the number of dengue cases:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Columbia
- Costa Rica
- French Guiana
- Guadeloupe
- Guatemala
- haiti
- Jamaica
- martinique
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- paraguay
- Peru
- Saint Bartholomew
- St. Maarten
- Turks and Caicos Islands
The CDC says that because dengue fever is spread through mosquito bites, all travelers to risk areas should use EPA-registered insect repellents, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors, and sleep in air-conditioned rooms. He said people should do things like this to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Rooms with window screens or under insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
Workers fumigate a house against Aedes aegypti to prevent the spread of dengue fever in a neighborhood of Piura, northern Peru, on June 11, 2023. (Ernest Benavidez/AFP via Getty Images)
The virus can cause severe headaches, fever, vomiting, rashes, and other symptoms.
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Most infected people have no symptoms, but severe cases can lead to plasma leakage and death.
