Health: Latin America
Key Facts
—Dengue surge. In epidemiological week 12 of 2026, the Americas reported 624,085 suspected dengue cases, a cumulative incidence of 62 per 100,000 population — a 64% decrease from the same period in 2025 but still elevated.
—El Niño threat. PAHO’s July 2026 analysis warns that the 2026–2027 El Niño event could expose 756 emergency hospitals in the Americas to coastal-flooding risks and disrupt supply chains for medicines and medical supplies.
—2025 baseline. The Americas recorded 4.46 million suspected dengue cases in 2025, down 66% from the record 13 million in 2024 but still above the pre-pandemic average. All four serotypes circulated simultaneously in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.
