Thus far, 549 circumstances of dengue fever have been recorded this 12 months, officers say.March 27, 2024, 12:55 PM ET• 4 min readPuerto Rico has declared a public well being emergency because the variety of dengue fever circumstances continues to rise.Thus far this 12 months, there have been 549 circumstances reported with the plurality occurring in San Juan, based on the island’s well being division. There was a 140% enhance this 12 months in circumstances from Jan. 1 to March 21, in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months, the division stated.”This 12 months, dengue circumstances have exceeded historic figures,” Dr. Carlos Mellado López, the secretary of the Puerto Rico Division of Well being, stated in a press release. “The groups have been engaged on the built-in plan for prevention and management in response to arbovirus and we’re going to develop the applied response. It is very important be aware that the rise in circumstances has not solely been mirrored in Puerto Rico, however now we have seen it all through the area of the Americas.”The general public well being emergency order will stay in place for 90 days.The division says its response will embody early detection, epidemiological surveillance and offering academic materials on dengue. Dr. Melissa Marzán, an epidemiologist with the well being division, additionally emphasised the significance of collaboration with municipalities.An Aedes aegypti mosquito sucks blood from an individual at a laboratory in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, on March 26, 2024.Luis Robayo/AFP by way of Getty Photographs”Municipal leaders have performed a vital position alongside the Division of Well being, recognizing the affect that dengue has on inhabitants,” Marzán stated. “We’re deeply grateful to your help and we urge you to empower your communities in order that they will perform cleansing efforts across the house and thus get rid of mosquito breeding grounds.”Dengue viruses are unfold by means of bites from contaminated Aedes species mosquitoes, principally present in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). These mosquitoes are additionally chargeable for spreading Zika and chikungunya viruses.Dengue will be attributable to dengue virus 1, 2, 3 or 4, the well being company stated. An individual will be contaminated a number of instances over the course of their life.About one in 4 individuals develop signs lasting two to seven days, however signs are normally gentle and embody fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, muscle ache, joint ache and bone ache.As a result of signs will not be particular to dengue, they’re typically confused with different diseases, based on the CDC.There are not any particular medicines to deal with dengue other than supportive care, which incorporates relaxation, ingesting fluids and taking acetaminophen. The CDC warns to not take aspirin or ibuprofen, as a result of it may possibly set off gastritis or bleeding.Nonetheless, about one in 20 will develop extreme dengue, which may result in shock (injury to the physique’s organs), inside bleeding and even dying, though deaths are uncommon, the CDC stated.A dengue vaccine is accredited for youngsters between ages 9 and 16 who’ve a laboratory-confirmed earlier dengue virus an infection and who reside in areas the place dengue is endemic, based on the CDC. It’s obtainable in Puerto Rico and is a part of the territory’s routine childhood immunization schedule, the CDC stated.