On Monday, Puerto Rico's health secretary announced the declaration of an epidemic in response to a significant increase in dengue cases across the U.S. territory. With a population of 3.2 million, Puerto Rico has already recorded 549 cases this year, surpassing the total of 1,293 cases reported in the entirety of last year. The capital city of San Juan has been the most heavily affected area.
According to the island's health department, over 340 individuals have been hospitalized due to the mosquito-borne virus. This marks the first dengue epidemic declared in Puerto Rico since 2012.
Globally, more than 5 million dengue cases were reported last year, with nearly 80% of them occurring in the Western Hemisphere. The World Health Organization has highlighted that the region has already documented around 3 million cases this year. Health officials attribute the rise in cases to increased rainfall, humidity, and heat associated with climate change.
Dengue symptoms can include severe headaches, fever, vomiting, rash, and other manifestations. While many infected individuals remain asymptomatic, severe cases can result in plasma leakage and even death.
