United States: In 2024, there are number of deaths from dengue fever which have already raised sharply across the Caribbean and the Americas, with more than 7,700 deaths reported so far. This is more than triple the number from 2023, which had 2,467 deaths.
Health officials say that warmer weather, which is hereby caused by the climate crisis, is allowing the mosquitoes that really carries the dengue virus to spread to more areas, making the disease harder to control. The increase in deaths highlights the growing danger posed by climate change and the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
A record 12.6m suspected cases of the virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito have occurred in the region this year – up from fewer than 4m last year, the Pan American Health Organization (Paho), the World Health Organization’s Americas office, said on Tuesday evening.
As reported by The Guardian.com, seven hundred and three cases is the highest number reported in the region which comprises of United States, said the Paho director Jarbas Barbosa at news conference adding that the record keeping started in 1980.
“This is connected directly to climatic factors: temperature increases, drought, and flood,” he said. Flourishing population boom, rapid growth of urban areas and inappropriate hygiene have become an excellent background for dengue development.
Paho said the virus has increased globally since last year and affected regions previously untouched by dengue.
The largest number of dengue cases is identified in Brazil – more than 10m; Argentina – more than 580 thousand; Mexico – over 500 thousand.
Overall, on the Caribbean region, Guyana has the most number of cases with more than forty one thousand, followed by French Guiana, Dominican Republic and Martinique.
However, local dengue transmission has been confirmed in California, Florida and Texas this year, the US CDC says.
Dengue virus is segmented into four types: namely type 1, type 2, type 3 and type 4. One can state that there is no immunity to other viruses and diseases if they had another virus.
Overall, dengue serotype 3 has re-emerged and become the most common in the second half of the year in Mexico, Central America and some areas of the Caribbean after appearing every 10 years, said Thais dos Santos, Paho’s adviser on arboviral diseases.
Some animals don’t get sick at all, while others develop symptoms of headache, fever, and flu. In severe invasions, primary dermagramma invasion may lead to severe bleeding, shock and death. The more often the person gets infected, the stronger is the impact on the immune system.