Dengue and Chikungunya spread beyond the historical areas of transmission: A rising Public Health Challenge

Abstract

Dengue fever and chikungunya are viral diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which have been historically limited to specific regions in the Americas. However, in recent years, these diseases have been spreading beyond their traditional boundaries, affecting new populations and presenting a major public health challenge.

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), there were over 3.5 million cases of dengue reported in the Americas in 2022, with Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Nicaragua being the countries with the highest incidence rates. Furthermore, chikungunya cases have been increasing in the region, with over 190,000 cases reported in 2022, a significant rise compared to the just over 9,000 cases reported in 2019.(1)