A Climate Change-Driven Dengue Outbreak Has Been Described As The Caribbean’s ‘Worst Medical Crisis Ever’

Photo: Mr.Smith Chetanachan/123RF In January 2019, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) warned the Caribbean region of an expected spike in dengue fever and called on communities to exercise caution and support the elimination of mosquito breeding sites to help combat the virus. A full year later, the number of individuals in the Americas having contracted the mosquito-borne virus is approaching 3 million with at least 1,372 recorded deaths— the highest number of cases on record. The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and other experts have pointed to climate change as one of the leading causes for the surge in numbers, with poor environmental management and increased adaptability of mosquitoes listed as other causes. Dengue is transmitted by a bite from an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. Source: Forbes