Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika Found Throughout the Americas

As the summer of 2024 comes to a close in the United States, disease-carry Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes continue to spread three serious diseases throughout the Region of the Americas.

On August 14, 2024, the Pan American Helath Organization (PAHO) issued an updated Epidemiological Update confirming chikungunya (371,265), dengue (11,199), and Zika (24,679) viruses have been recently identified in most countries in the Region.

The thirteen-year circulation pattern of these arboviruses in the Region shows the introduction of chikungunya in December 2013 and the introduction of Zika in 2015.

Furthermore, dengue's circulation in 2024 has already doubled (234%) the cases reported in 2023.

In the United States, the CDC has confirmed that these diseases were detected in international travelers and local infections in California, Florida, New York, Puerto Rico, and Texas in 2024.

On August 8, 2024, the PAHO announced it had redoubled its efforts to help Central America manage its dengue outbreak; PAHO has deployed a series of strategic measures in response to this epidemic.

Since 2023, a situation room has also been created to support decision-making in prevention and control. This room is always accessible to technical teams from Central American countries.

Additionally, technical missions by PAHO experts in this subregion have aimed to improve clinical diagnosis and the rapid detection of outbreaks and to strengthen response at the primary healthcare level to ensure effective patient management.

"This not only the rapid detection and diagnosis of cases but also the adequate and timely management of patients, which is crucial to reduce the severity of cases and save lives," commented Dr. Luis Gerado Castellanos, Head of the Unit of Neglected, Tropical and Vector-borne Diseases, in a press release.

To help identify where disease outbreaks are occurring, the CDC publishes Travel Health Advisories during the year. As of August 14, 2024, there are no travel restrictions related to these three diseases.

From a disease avoidance perspective, approved vaccines are available for chikungunya and dengue but not for zika. For example, the U.S. FDA approved Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® live-attenuated chikungunya vaccine on November 9, 2023.

The CDC suggests speaking with a travel vaccine expert one month before visiting an at-risk area. Travel vaccines are available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.