Americas adopt new regional strategy to combat dengue and arboviruses

Health ministers from across the Americas have approved a new regional framework to combat the rising threat of dengue and other arboviral diseases, such as chikungunya, zika, and yellow fever. The strategy, spanning the next decade, focuses on integrated actions including mosquito control, improved clinical care, faster surveillance, and enhanced community participation.

During the 63rd Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington, D.C., authorities also adopted the Strategy for Strengthening Health Emergency and Risk Management for Health Security 2026–2031. This initiative aims to increase regional capacity to prevent and respond to health emergencies, addressing challenges like antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and the impact of frequent natural disasters in the region.

PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa noted that the value of these decisions will be measured by the tangible changes they bring to the lives of the people served. The coordinated response seeks to mitigate the sanitary, social, and economic impacts of mosquito-borne illnesses, which are exacerbated by rising temperatures, intense rainfall, and rapid urbanization.