A severe dengue outbreak in the Americas has resulted in over 7,700 deaths this year, with nearly 12.6 million reported cases, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This represents a record high since records began in 1980.
The deadliest mosquito-borne disease worldwide, dengue has hit Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico particularly hard, accounting for 90% of all cases and 88% of deaths. Children are at increased risk of contracting the disease, with Guatemala reporting 70% of dengue-related deaths among children under 15 in other countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Paraguay.
Climate events have fueled mosquito proliferation, while poor waste management has also contributed to the breeding of mosquitoes that carry and spread dengue. The disease affects around half the world’s population, with nearly 4 billion people living in areas at risk. PAHO is urging stronger mitigation efforts to combat the outbreak.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/record-dengue-outbreak-americas-kills-194304762.html