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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s well being secretary declared an epidemic on Monday following a spike in dengue circumstances.
The U.S. territory of three.2 million individuals has reported at the very least 549 circumstances to date this yr, in contrast with a complete of 1,293 circumstances for all of final yr. The vast majority of circumstances have been reported within the capital of San Juan.
Greater than 340 individuals have been hospitalized for the mosquito-borne virus, in keeping with the island’s well being division.
Puerto Rico final declared a dengue epidemic in 2012.
Greater than 5 million dengue circumstances had been reported worldwide final yr, with nearly 80% of them occurring in the Western Hemisphere, in accordance the World Well being Group. The area has reported some 3 million circumstances to date this yr, with well being officers noting that larger rainfall together with humidity and warmth linked to local weather change have contributed to an increase in circumstances.
The virus could cause crushing complications, fever, vomiting, a rash and different signs. Whereas most contaminated individuals don’t get signs, extreme circumstances can result in plasma leakage and demise.
