Dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses are all transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which is present in much of the Western hemisphere. So it should come as no surprise that these three viral diseases are being seen in significant numbers, particularly n Latin America.

Western hemisphere map Public domain image/ E Pluribus Anthony
Western hemisphere map
Public domain image/ E Pluribus Anthony

The number of dengue fever cases reported in the Americas through the first week of September is closing in on the 2 million mark with 1,977,812 probable and confirmed cases. Like in all recent years, Brazil is reporting the bulk of the cases with more than 1.4 million cases to date.

Other countries reporting notable numbers include Argentina, Paraguay and Colombia.

So far, 826 people have died due to dengue in the Americas.

Chikungunya made it’s presence known in the Americas for the first time in late 2013. Since that time, millions of cases have been reported.

In 2016, more than 185,000 cases have been reported in the Americas, with Brazil accounting for more than half. 54 deaths have been recorded.

Officials numbers on Zika in the Americas are in the 500,000 range, according to the Pan America Health Organization (PAHO).

Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela account for the most cases, although a significant number of cases have been reported in the Caribbean Islands.

Nearly 2000 cases of confirmed congenital syndrome associated with Zika virus infection have been reported, mostly in Brazil.

13 Zika related deaths have been reported in the Americas.

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