Puerto Rico declares public well being emergency as dengue instances rise

Female Aedes aegypti mosquito as she was in the process of obtaining a

Feminine Aedes aegypti mosquito as she was within the technique of acquiring a “blood meal.” (credit score: US Division of Well being and Human Companies)

Puerto Rico has declared a public well being emergency amid an ongoing outbreak of dengue infections, a mosquito-spread viral an infection that may trigger fever, aches, rash, vomiting, and, in about 5 p.c of instances, a extreme illness marked by inside bleeding and shock.

The US territory has tallied 549 instances for the reason that begin of the 12 months, representing a 140 p.c enhance in contrast with instances tallied at this level final 12 months, in response to the territory’s well being division. The Related Press reported that greater than 340 of the 549 instances have been hospitalized.

In 2023, the island nation of greater than 3.2 million individuals had over 1,000 instances of dengue all year long.

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