Epidemiology of Dengue in Latin America

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease. It is estimated that 50 million dengue infections occur each year with 500 000 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever and at least 12 000 deaths, mainly among children. Globally, 2.5 billion people now live in over 100 countries or territories where dengue viruses can be transmitted [1]. The region of the Americas have experienced an important increase in the number of reported cases over the last 30 years, evolving from a low to a high endemicity situation, with indigenous transmission in almost all countries [2]. The only countries that have not reported indigenous cases are Canada, Uruguay, and Chile (continental territory). Suspected and confirmed dengue cases in the Americas, severe or not severe, deaths and serotypes circulating are reported annually (on a weekly basis) to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) by the countries, and data are available from 1995 in the PAHO Dengue website [3].More detailed information on dengue cases by age, seasonality, and data on serotypes circulating by region or departments of the countries is available on the Ministry of Health (MoH) websites of many countries in the region, such as Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Paraguay, etc.