7,000 Dengue Deaths Confirmed in the Americas

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and numerous health agencies, the global Dengue virus outbreak in 2024 has been classified as a grade 3 emergency, requiring significant responses by public health.

In 2024, the Region of the Americas has been significantly impacted, with 7,000 Dengue-related fatalities reported as of October 13, 2024.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued an Epidemiological Alert identifying 43 countries and territories that have reported over 11,994,676 Dengue cases this year. This PAHO data is over 225% greater than recorded in 2023.

In the United States, both locally acquired and travel-related dengue cases have been confirmed this year, led by recent reports from Los Angeles, California, and Miami, Florida.

Unless the spreading of all four Dengue viruses is reduced, scientists have predicted that 4 billion people could be impacted by Dengue by 2080.

According to a survey published by the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition in September 2024, 61% of respondents say mosquito-transmitted pathogens pose the most significant risk for humans. 

These scientists say understanding the types of pathogens most likely to spark large outbreaks is critical to guide preparedness, response, and education efforts.

In addition to Dengue, the PAHO has reported Chikungunya (400,000, 177) and Zika (38,000, 2) cases and related fatalities in 2024.

To curtail the spread of these diseases, the WHO recommends that international travelers protect themselves with approved vaccines.

About 40 countries worldwide have authorized the second-generation Dengue vaccine, Qdenga, which remains unavailable in the U.S.

In late 2023, the U.S. government approved Valneva SE's innovative, effective, and safe IXCHIQ® monovalent, single-dose, live-attenuated chikungunya vaccine. IXCHIQ is the only Chikungunya vaccine offered at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S. and is available in Canada, Europe, and the Virgin Islands.

To maximize personal immunity, the U.S. CDC suggests people speak with a travel vaccine expert about vaccination options one month before visiting a Chikungunya-Endemic area.