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In 2022, the Region of the Americas an increase in the number of cases and deaths due to dengue was observed compared to the previous years. This trend has continued during the first weeks of 2023, and in some countries, it has become even more pronounced, resulting in overburdening of health care services. Given this situation, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) reiterates to Member States to organize the health care service networks and strengthen health care services, while reinforcing individual and vector prevention and control measures to reduce the impact on the population.
Situation summary
In the Region of the Americas, between epidemiological week (EW) 1 and EW 52 of 2022, there were 2,809,818 dengue cases reported, with a cumulative incidence rate of 282.96 cases per 100,000 population. As of EW 10 of 2023, dengue continues to be the predominant arboviral disease, representing 75% (342,243) of all the arbovirus cases (1).
In Figure 1 a temporal decrease in dengue, chikungunya, and Zika cases over the last 15 years in the Region of the Americas can be observed, with a clear predominance of dengue circulation over other arboviruses. The third year with highest number of dengue cases reported was in 2022, only being surpassed in numbers reported in the years 2016 and 2019.
Figure 1. Distribution of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika cases by year reported. Region of the Americas, 2008-2022 (up to EW 52 of 2022).
In 2019, the largest number of dengue cases was recorded with over 3.1 million cases (Figure 2), including 28,203 severe cases, and 1,823 deaths (1) (Figure 3).
Figure 2. Distribution of dengue cases by epidemiological week of report. Region of the Americas, 2016-2023 (until EW 8 of 2023).