Dengue fever is surging worldwide, with a record 10 million cases reported in the first half of 2024 alone. Since the beginning of 2024, over 3 000 dengue-related deaths have been reported from 73 countries/territories.
This unprecedented increase, particularly evident in the Americas, including Puerto Rico, is being fueled in part by climate change, according to scientists.
Warmer and wetter weather conditions have accelerated the life cycles and expanded the ranges of the mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus, spreading the disease more widely and rapidly.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning on Tuesday about the increased risk of dengue infections in the United States, attributed to the global spike in cases.
The Americas have reported more than 9.7 million dengue cases in the first six months of 2024, twice the total number from 2023, and exceeding the previous highest annual record.
Puerto Rico has declared a public health emergency, with more cases reported in the first five months of 2024 than in all of 2023. This alarming rise is causing significant strain on healthcare systems, with hospitals from Brazil to Bangladesh overwhelmed with patients, reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic’s peak.
The surge in dengue cases is closely linked to climate change. Rising global temperatures and increased rainfall create ideal conditions for the Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vectors of dengue. These environmental changes enable mosquitoes to thrive in new regions, expanding the geographical range of the virus.
Dr. Grayson Brown, executive director of the nonprofit Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit, highlighted the impending threat during a recent webinar with California officials. “The storm’s comin’, folks. It’s here in Puerto Rico, but you guys are going to feel it pretty soon,” he warned.
Meanwhile, human-caused warming is spawning an explosion of mosquitoes here. Greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from burning fossil fuels, have raised average temperatures in the commonwealth by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit since 1950, according to the National Centers for Climate Information.
The change has been a boon to Aedes aegypti, which is able to transmit diseases at higher temperatures than other mosquito species. In laboratory experiments, researchers have found that warmer conditions can make the insect grow faster, bite more people and lay more eggs. Heat also makes the dengue virus more infectious and allows it to replicate faster inside its hosts.
Models and real-world data show that these mosquitoes can transmit dengue at temperatures ranging from 64 to 94.1 degrees Fahrenheit — conditions that are found in Puerto Rico every month of the year.
Although there is not yet any widespread outbreak in the continental United States, the CDC has reported 745 cases among U.S. travelers who contracted dengue abroad this year. Last year, there were 1,829 travel-associated cases in the United States.
Dengue cases typically peak during warmer months, suggesting that the worst may still be ahead. Florida has already reported eight locally transmitted cases in 2024, indicating the potential for further spread within the country.
In tropical regions across Latin America, Africa and Asia, where dengue once circulated primarily during summer months, a lengthening warm season is turning the disease into a year-round phenomenon.
Meanwhile, the shifting climate is allowing dengue to infiltrate temperate regions and high-altitude communities where it has never been found before.
The CDC is urging healthcare providers to be vigilant for dengue symptoms, especially in patients with recent travel history to areas with active transmission. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, and in severe cases, internal bleeding and organ failure.
There is no specific treatment for dengue, and existing vaccines are limited in their availability and application. The only approved vaccine in the United States, Dengvaxia, is for children aged 9 to 16 who have had a previous dengue infection and live in areas with frequent transmission, such as Puerto Rico. However, the vaccine will be unavailable after 2026 due to the discontinuation of production by its manufacturer.
Without significant action to control the dengue virus and address climate change, the World Health Organization warns that up to 2 billion additional people could be at risk in the next 50 years. Rising temperatures, combined with increased global travel and urbanization, are likely to exacerbate the spread of dengue.
Public health officials are emphasizing the importance of mosquito control measures and public education on preventing mosquito bites. In addition, international cooperation and investment in healthcare infrastructure are crucial to managing and mitigating the impact of dengue fever globally.
Discover more from NJTODAY.NET
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.