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On Monday, Health Secretary Carlos Mellado López highlighted that the number of dengue cases in Puerto Rico has increased threefold compared to 2023.
A total of 4,798 cases have been reported this year, exceeding those from 2023. So far, there have been nine confirmed deaths, with one additional case under investigation.
“The Department of Health has activated all essential measures to tackle this situation. Communities must take action to remove mosquito breeding grounds, apply repellents, and safeguard themselves against bites. It is unfeasible to control this outbreak without the involvement of citizens,” stated Mellado López in written remarks earlier this week.
Additionally, the Vector Control Unit has collected over 225,347 female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in areas including San Juan, Bayamón, and Carolina. Molecular analyses on these samples have confirmed the presence of serotypes 1, 2, and 3 of the virus. According to Chief Epidemiologist Melissa Marzán, serotype DENV-3 constitutes 55% of the cases reported in 2024.
“Dengue is a preventable illness if we all contribute. Eliminating mosquito breeding sites and protecting against bites is crucial to curtailing the spread,” remarked Marzán.
San Juan leads the municipalities with the highest incidence, reporting 995 cases (20.74%), followed by Carolina with 293 cases (6.11%) and Rincón with 240 cases (5.00%). The age groups most affected include individuals aged 40 to 59 years (936 cases, 19.51%), teenagers aged 15 to 19 years (737 cases, 15.36%), and children aged 10 to 14 years (683 cases, 14.24%).
