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PAHO recommends strengthened surveillance to tackle dengue in Americas

Feb 24, 2026 News

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) this week released a new epidemiological update on dengue in the Americas, emphasizing the importance for countries of maintaining and reinforcing prevention, surveillance, and health system preparedness, while remaining attentive to potential changes in the epidemiological situation.

In 2025, a total of 4,459,521 suspected dengue cases and 1,682,588 confirmed cases were reported across the region. Of these, 8,966 were classified as severe dengue, and 2,207 deaths were recorded, with a case fatality rate of 0.05%. These figures represent a 66% decrease in cases and a 74% reduction in deaths compared with 2024, a year that saw a record high of over 13 million cases.

The situation varies by subregion. In 2025, the Southern Cone reported the highest number of cases, although this represented a 65% decrease compared with 2024. The Caribbean, by contrast, recorded a 7% increase over the previous year and more than double the average reported between 2019 and 2023. The Andean and Central America & Mexico subregions reported declines compared with 2024.

All four dengue virus serotypes circulated simultaneously in 2025, which continues to highlight the potential for outbreaks and severe cases. In 2026, up to the end of January (epidemiological week 4), 122,090 cases have been reported, including 22,409 laboratory-confirmed cases, 242 severe dengue cases, and six deaths. These figures represent an 83% decrease in cases and a 98% reduction in deaths compared with the same period in 2025.

In its epidemiological update, PAHO recommends strengthening integrated surveillance—epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and entomological—as well as integrated vector control in high-risk areas (including health facilities), early clinical diagnosis, and monitoring of warning signs such as severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, mucosal bleeding, and lethargy to support timely case management and avoid overburdening hospitals. PAHO also encourages countries to adapt their health services as needed to ensure timely and quality care, prioritize virological testing for case confirmation, and maintain clear laboratory protocols to allow for early detection.

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