Puerto Rico Declares Public Health Emergency Due to Rising Dengue Cases

Puerto Rico's health department has declared a public health emergency due to a significant increase in dengue fever cases, with 549 reported so far this year. The emergency order will last for 90 days and includes measures such as early detection, surveillance, and educational outreach. Dengue, spread by Aedes mosquitoes, can cause mild symptoms in most cases, but severe cases can lead to organ damage and even death. The territory has a dengue vaccine available for children with a previous infection, and health officials are urging collaboration with municipalities to combat the spread of the virus.