Thousands in tropical climates are grappling with the most severe dengue outbreak on record, a situation expected to worsen due to the El Niño climate phenomenon.
Dengue fever, a tropical infection transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, can result in symptoms such as headache, high fever, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and can lead to death in critical cases.
The health ministry of Peru has reported over 130,000 registered cases, with the death toll now over 200.
Health authorities in Peru have linked the surge in dengue cases to the cyclical warming of the oceans and resultant weather patterns, known as El Niño.
El Niño triggers tropical cyclones in the Pacific, leading to increased rainfall and heightened flood risks in the region. This excessive rainfall results in stagnant water accumulation in urban areas, creating ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
In an attempt to control the outbreak, Peruvian authorities have implemented regulations preventing residents from storing stagnant water in open containers as it encourages mosquito breeding. Health Minister Rosa Gutierrez underscored the seriousness of the situation, urging residents to help eliminate mosquito breeding sites to stop the disease’s further spread.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the emergence of El Niño on June 8, after a three-year span dominated by the cooler La Niña pattern. Given the correlation between the last significant El Niño in 2016 and the record high global temperatures, scientists have expressed worry about the current year.
In response to the substantial threat posed by excessive rainfall, Peru’s President Dina Boluarte declared a two-month “state of emergency” in 18 out of 24 regions in the country. This enables appropriate official actions to address the situation effectively.
Highlighting that the current case and death numbers are the highest since 2017, when Peru reported 68,290 cases and 89 deaths, Health Minister Gutiérrez emphasized the need for joint efforts to combat dengue and to lessen the impact of conditions induced by El Niño.
