According to experts, the reappearance of a serotype that had not circulated in the last decade, such as DENV-3, together with the increase in the susceptible population, not only raises the probability of serious dengue cases, but it could also cause epidemics that overload health services, exceeding their response capacity.

In its latest epidemiological alert, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) stressed that the risk of DENV-3 circulation in the Americas is high due to the wide distribution of vector mosquitoes, human mobility, and partial (and in many areas absent) immunity in the population.

Recent data indicate an increase in the circulation of DENV-3, which highlights the urgent need to implement integrated and effective strategies to control the spread of the virus, the health organization said.

In 2024, there was a historic increase in dengue cases in the region, with 13,027,747 cases reported by 50 countries and territories, and 8,186 deaths.

During this period, the countries that reported the highest proportion of cases were: Brazil with 10,232,872, Argentina (581,559), Mexico (558,846), Colombia (320,982) and Paraguay (295,785).

Meanwhile, in January 2025, 23 countries and territories in the Americas reported a total of 238,659 dengue cases, and 23 deaths from this cause.

They were concentrated in Brazil with 87 percent, Colombia (5.6), Nicaragua (2.5), Peru (2.5) and Mexico (2.5).

PAHO explained that currently the four serotypes of the dengue virus are circulating in the region.

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