Puerto Rico‘s health secretary declared a dengue fever epidemic on Monday.
The U.S. island territory has recorded 549 cases so far this year — mostly in its capital San Juan — a substantial increase compared to the total of 1,293 in 2023. Over 340 individuals have been hospitalized due to the mosquito-borne illness.
Puerto Rico previously declared an epidemic of dengue fever in 2012. The rise in dengue cases is part of a global increase, with the World Health Organization noting over 5 million instances worldwide last year. Significantly, nearly 80 percent of those were within the Western Hemisphere. About 3 million cases have been reported in this region this year.
Health officials cite increases in rain and humidity as contributing to the rise in cases in the region.
Dengue fever can lead to severe symptoms such as debilitating headaches, high fever, vomiting, and skin rashes. Although some infected individuals might not exhibit any symptoms, severe cases can cause plasma leakage, potentially becoming fatal.
Unfortunately, dengue fever is not the only virus to see sharp increases this year. Measles cases are also skyrocketing across the globe, and are a particular concern in the U.S. as it continues to grapple with an influx of migrants, many of whom are unvaccinated against the disease and come from countries with substandard medical care.
