Latin American health experts urge dengue prevention during case declines

Health experts at the Latam Dengue Forum in Cartagena, Colombia, are warning Latin American nations to use current periods of declining cases to strengthen prevention strategies against future outbreaks. Experts emphasized that a lull in epidemic peaks should not be mistaken for an absence of risk, as the cyclical nature of the disease can create a false sense of security.

Factors such as accelerated urbanization, human mobility, housing conditions, water supply challenges, and climate phenomena like El Niño continue to facilitate transmission. The forum, organized by the biopharmaceutical company Takeda, highlighted that while case numbers have decreased in 2025, the underlying risks remain significant.

In Argentina, the 2023-2024 season reached unprecedented levels, with over 580,000 confirmed cases and 419 deaths. Across the broader Latin American region, more than 13 million cases and 8,400 deaths have been recorded, underscoring the ongoing challenge to regional health systems.