From January 1st to June 26th 2009, a total of 480,909 cases of dengue have been reported in the Americas, including 7,547 cases of severe dengue (dengue hemorrhagic fever, dengue shock syndrome, and complicated dengue) and 186 deaths. A total of 91% of these cases have been reported from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia [1]. However, due to the seasonal decrease of temperature in the southern regions of the sub-continent, mosquito activity is expected to decrease, followed by a decreased transmission of dengue virus.

Persons travelling to areas reporting dengue transmission are recommended to foresee personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites. This includes mainly the use of mosquito repellent, and the wearing of long sleeves and trousers.

Argentina

As of June 23rd 2009, the Health Ministry of Argentina reported 25,989 autochthonous dengue cases (laboratory confirmed, or persons reporting an epidemiological link) and 1,911 imported cases since the beginning of the year. The provinces most affected are: Chaco (11,037 cases), Catamarca (8,875), Salta (2,834), Jujuy (1,408) and Santa Fe (1,052). The authorities reported five confirmed fatal cases, two in Salta, two in Chaco and one in Catamarca [2]. The main serotype in circulation is DEN-1.

Bolivia

The Pan American Health Organization reported 60,526 cases of dengue and 25 deaths in Bolivia for the first 25 weeks of 2009 (up to June 21st). Bolivia is by far the most affected country of the Andean region with an incidence rate of 622/100,000 population. Three serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2 and DEN-3) are currently co-circulating in the country [1].

Brazil

On 19 June, the Ministry of Health of Brazil reported 332,083 dengue cases having occurred in the first 20 weeks of 2009 (up to May 17th), which represents a 50% decrease compared to the same period in 2008, when 666,638 cases were reported. In spite of this global decrease, seven states go against this trend and reported an increase compared to 2008, i.e. Acre, Amapá, Roraima, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. The highest increases are reported from Acre and Bahia, with a 839% and 216% increase of cases respectively [3]. Regarding the cases of severe dengue, Brazil reports a decrease of 73% compared to the same period in 2008 (first 20 weeks), with 874 cases in 2009, including 123 deaths [3]. Three serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2 and DEN-3) are currently circulating. In the state of Bahia, DEN-2 counts for 84% of the cases [4].

Colombia

The Pan American Health Organization reported 18,359 cases of dengue and 17 deaths related in Colombia for the first 21 weeks (up to May 24th) of 2009 [1].

Others

As of June 26th, Chile and Uruguay did not report autochthonous cases of dengue in 2009. The map below illustrates the distribution of dengue cases in Central and South America, including countries that do not provide geographical distribution of their cases, which are represented in orange: Belize (5 cases as of week 16), Colombia (18,359 cases as of week 21), Ecuador (992 cases as of week 12), Guatemala (623 cases as of week 19), Guyana (492 cases as of week 12), Honduras (2,434 cases as of week 20), Nicaragua (218 cases as of week 10), Suriname (241 cases as of week 12), Venezuela (17,220 cases as of week 22) [1].

More information on dengue fever is also available from the ECDC fact sheet

References

[1] Pan-American Health Organisation. Number of reported cases of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in the Americas, by country: Figure for 2009, Epidemiological week 25 (updated 26 June 2009). Available here.

[2] Ministry of Health, Argentina. Epidemiological report, Direcciones de Epidemiologia Provincial, 23 June 2009. Available here.

[3] Ministry of health, Notícias: Casos de dengue caem 50,2% [in Portuguese], 19 June 2009. Available here.

[4] Health Secretary of Bahia, Brazil, Situação epidemiológica da dengue [in Portuguese], Year 2, No.21, 29 June 2009. Available from: here.