Description of the Event
Date when the trigger was met
31-08-2023
What happened, where and when?
Dengue continues to be the arbovirus with the highest number of reported cases in the Americas region, with outbreaks occurring on a cyclical basis every 3 to 5 years. The year 2023 was the year with the highest historical record of dengue cases, exceeding 4.1 million new infections. This number surpassed those of 2019, when more than 3.1 million cases were recorded, including 28,203 severe cases and 1,823 deaths (1).
On March 23, 2023, the World Health Organization reported on the geographic expansion of dengue and chikungunya cases beyond the historical areas of transmission in the Region of the Americas, constituting a major public health problem (2).
On September 15, 2023, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) issued an epidemiological alert on the increase of dengue cases in Central America and the Caribbean, given the increase of cases in countries and territories of this subregion and the upcoming start of the summer season in South America (3).
On August 31, 2023, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) of Guatemala declared a National Health Emergency due to the dengue epidemic for a period of three months, ending at the end of November. However, MSPAS reported that, according to the projection made, the dengue health emergency could end in the first quarter of 2024. The deadline could be extended according to article 6 of ministerial agreement number 258-2023, with which the emergency was declared in August. It established that periodic evaluations should be carried out to determine progress, and the deadline could be extended if the circumstances that gave rise to the emergency persisted (4).
On December 19, 2023, the National Council for Disaster Reduction unanimously resolved to declare an Institutional Yellow Alert at the national level, due to the meteorological effects of the El Niño phenomenon, the health effects of dengue, the 2023-2024 forest fire season and the 2023-2024 temperature drop season.
The collaboration of the Guatemalan Red Cross in supporting the dengue prevention actions carried out by MSPAS was fundamental. The National Society, through IFRC-DREF, contributed resources, expertise and community outreach, complementing and enhancing government efforts. This was evidenced by greater coverage and efficiency in the implementation of prevention and control strategies, such as educational campaigns, eradication of mosquito breeding sites, and distribution of essential supplies. It also contributed to raising community awareness of the importance of preventive measures, making the fight against dengue more inclusive and effective.
