PAHO urges increased surveillance to reduce mosquito-transmitted viruses

May 08, 2025 News

Kaieteur News- As Mosquito Awareness Week kicks off in the Americas, Pan American Health Organization Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has called on Ministries of Health in the Region, to increase surveillance and lead the charge towards the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds in a bid to reduce mosquito-transmitted viruses such as dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya.

“Climate change has contributed to an increase in areas favourable for the propagation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, and consequently to the increase in arboviral diseases in the Region of the Americas,” said the PAHO Director. The accelerated growth of urban areas, the storage of water due to inadequate piped water supply, and the poor management of solid waste are also factors that increase breeding sites.

Dengue is currently one of the main threats to public health in the Americas, with cases dramatically increasing in recent years. In 2024, countries of the Region reported over 13 million suspected cases, a 283% increase in cases compared to 2023, and 356% higher than the average number of cases reported over the past 5 years.

Cases of Chikungunya are also on the rise, with 431,223 cases reported during 2024, compared to 411,560 cases in 2023. While there have not been any recent outbreaks of Zika, the virus continues to circulate, with 44,242 cases reported in 2024, compared to 37,659 cases in 2023.

These viruses directly affect people’s quality of life, causing high fever, intense pain, general discomfort, and, in severe cases, potentially fatal complications. The diseases can be especially dangerous for children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with pre-existing conditions.

But the impact of these diseases “is not limited to just physical symptoms and deaths,” added Dr. Barbosa. “It also affects the productivity and general well-being of people due to their absence from work and school, and can generate a significant economic burden for both families and public health systems.”

It is therefore crucial that Ministries of Health “promote and strengthen intersectoral work in the fight against mosquitoes,” said the PAHO Director, involving both public and private institutions and integrating efforts in areas beyond the health sector, such as education, sanitation, urban development and communication. “When we join forces in combating mosquitoes in a timely and coordinated manner, we can prevent outbreaks, save lives, and improve people’s living conditions,” he concluded.

Mosquito Awareness Week, celebrated this year from 5-9 May, is a country and territory-led effort in the Region of the Americas. It aims to raise awareness about the connection between mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit, and to work with the community to prevent mosquito breeding. The theme this year is “United for Health”.

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