In response to a surge in hospitalizations and deaths caused by dengue, Honduras has declared a national health emergency, according to an announcement by the health ministry on Friday. The government has instructed health officials to take immediate action by implementing prevention and control measures and allocating funds to manage the outbreak.

With 23,037 suspected cases of dengue reported in the first 20 weeks of the year, Honduras now has one of the highest totals in the Americas, as per data collected by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The entire region has already witnessed over 8.65 million cases in the first five months of 2024, almost double the number reported in the whole of 2023, which had set a record at the time.

While the southern cone of the Americas, particularly Brazil with 7.2 million cases, has accounted for the majority of dengue cases in the first half of 2024, there is now a significant decrease in infections in that region. In contrast, Central America and the Caribbean are entering their peak dengue seasons, highlighting the increased risk in these areas, according to PAHO.

The Honduran health ministry stated on Friday that the entire country has entered the epidemic zone due to the rise in cases and the subsequent increase in patient admissions across all hospitals. Honduras currently ranks second in the Central American Isthmus and Mexico Subregion in terms of reported dengue cases, trailing only behind Mexico, which has recorded over 69,000 cases this year.

To tackle this growing health crisis, both PAHO and the World Health Organization have recommended that countries in the affected regions take necessary measures to prepare for the dengue outbreak. This includes organizing health services to ensure proper clinical management, prevention of complications, and avoiding overload of specialized care services.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne virus primarily transmitted through the Aedes aegypti mosquito, known to also carry other viruses like yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika, as mentioned by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virus causes flu-like symptoms and can be fatal in severe cases.

Honduras is now intensifying efforts to combat the dengue outbreak, aiming to minimize the impact on public health and prevent further escalation of cases. Public awareness campaigns, environmental control measures, and access to timely healthcare services will be crucial in curbing the spread of this mosquito-borne disease.