There has been about 70,000 probable and confirmed dengue fever cases reported to date in the Western hemisphere and Brazil accounts for two out of three cases, according to the latest data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

There has been 8 dengue-related fatalities reported thus far in the Americas this year.

Up through the epidemiological week, Brazil has seen 46,162 probable and confirmed cases. Earlier reports note that the surge of dengue in Brazil was linked to a severe drought in the country.

In 2014, Brazil recorded 591,080 suspected and 214,760 lab-confirmed dengue fever cases.

To date in the Americas, Colombia follows Brazil with the most cases with nearly 9,000 cases recorded. Colombia is also battling a chikungunya outbreak in which more than 142,000 cases have been reported since July 2014.

Mexico and Honduras has recorded more than 3,500 dengue fever cases each.

Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. This disease used to be called “break-bone fever” because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle painthat feels like bones are breaking.

People get the dengue virus from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. It is not contagious from person to person.

There are three types of dengue fever in order of less severe to most: the typical uncomplicated dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHS) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).

Related: Shigella outbreak in northern Chile sickens more than 500