Dengue in the Americas: Nearly 2.3 million cases, 1,244 deaths

The number of cases of dengue fever in the Western Hemisphere doubled from 2012 to 2013, according to recent data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

North and South America map
Image/CIA

The report that ended epidemiological week 48, updated on Dec. 13, shows that the number of clinical  and lab-confirmed cases of the mosquito borne viral disease totaled 2,294,721. Clinical dengue is defined as a person with symptoms compatible with dengue with or without warning sings or severe dengue, with no lab or epidemiological confirmation.

Of the total number, 246,686 were laboratory confirmed. During the first 49 weeks, there were 1,244 fatalities recorded out of the Americas.

This compares to 2012, in which slightly less than half the number of cases were reported (1,120,902) and fatalities were about 60 percent of 2013’s number (784).

In 2013 in North America, the United States accounted for all of the 505 dengue cases, while Mexico accounted for more than half the dengue cases reported in the Mexico and Central America region (221,271/405,148).

Colombia recorded more than half of all the cases in the Andean region of South America (119,856/213,245) and Brazil accounted for nine out 10 cases in the Southern Cone of South America (1,451,432/1,600,625).

In fact, Brazil recorded 63 percent of all dengue cases in the Western Hemisphere.

Hispaniola Caribbean reported nearly 32,000 cases and the English, French and Dutch Caribbean reported 43,320 cases.

All four dengue serotypes (1-4) were seen throughout 2013.

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