Puerto Rico Battles Dengue Outbreak Without a Vaccine

During the global dengue virus outbreak in 2024, Puerto Rico was the most impacted area in the United States. The U.S. CDC says that Dengue is endemic in Puerto Rico, cases are increasing, and it issued a Dengue travel advisory earlier in 2024.

As of week #32 in August 2024, Puerto Rico reported 2,704 dengue cases, with San Juan reporting over 950 cases.

The local health department's report for August 2024 indicates that 1,234 dengue-related hospitalizations and two dengue-related deaths occurred this year.

Last year, 1,242 dengue cases were reported in Puerto Rico. 

Since 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Dengvaxia vaccine for certain people with laboratory evidence of a previous dengue infection and living in areas where Dengue is endemic, such as Puerto Rico.

However, in late August 2024, Puerto Rico's Health Department issued a Notice of Discontinuation regarding access to Dengvaxia.

This announcement indicates that millions of visitors to Puerto Rico in 2024 will be unable to access a Dengue-preventive vaccine.

The FDA may approve various dengue vaccines in the coming months and once again become available throughout the U.S.

Additionally, diseases such as Chikungunya have been transmitted to people by the Aedes aeqypti mosquito.

The good news is that Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® single-dose chikungunya vaccine is available in the U.S. at travel clinics and pharmacies.