All articles tagged with #us territories
Residents of Guam are participating in the U.S. presidential election, despite their votes not counting in the Electoral College. This symbolic act reflects their desire for political representation and recognition within the broader U.S. political system, highlighting ongoing discussions about voting rights and the status of U.S. territories.
Jason Palmer, a previously unknown Democrat, won the American Samoa Democratic caucus with 51 out of 91 votes, beating President Joe Biden who won 40. Palmer campaigned remotely and won four delegates, while Biden secured two. Palmer, a Baltimore resident, emphasized the need for a 21st-century leader and has loaned his campaign over $500,000. Despite this upset, the outcome is unlikely to impact Biden's path to the Democratic nomination.
Hertz has clarified its policies to employees that Puerto Rico driver's licenses are valid forms of identification for car rentals in the US, after a Puerto Rican man was denied a rental car when Hertz employees demanded to see his passport instead of his license. The incident prompted Puerto Rico's congressional representative to call on Hertz to implement a company-wide educational campaign to address discrimination against Puerto Ricans. Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr responded by apologizing to the man and rewriting the company's policy to make it clear that Puerto Rico is a US territory and its driver's licenses are valid forms of ID.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that dengue, a virus transmitted by infected mosquitoes, must be better controlled in U.S. territories, where the majority of cases in the United States are acquired. Between 2010 and 2020, the CDC logged nearly 31,000 dengue cases in U.S. territories, with over 96 percent of these occurring in Puerto Rico. A dengue vaccine is available but not recommended for children who have not had a prior infection. The CDC has authorized the use of genetically modified mosquitoes in some Florida and Texas counties, and researchers have released mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacterium, which reduces transmission of dengue and similar viruses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that dengue, a virus transmitted by infected mosquitoes, must be better controlled in U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. Between 2010 and 2020, the CDC logged nearly 31,000 dengue cases in U.S. territories, with over 96% of these occurring in Puerto Rico. A dengue vaccine is available but not recommended for children who have not had a prior infection. The CDC has authorized the use of genetically modified mosquitoes in some Florida and Texas counties to prevent dengue transmission.
More than half of children in the US Virgin Islands have had a prior dengue fever infection, according to a recent study. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness that can be fatal, and outbreaks are on the rise in US territories in the Caribbean. Experts say this highlights the neglected tropical diseases that are urgent amid climate change, which creates prime conditions for vector-borne diseases. A US vaccine for dengue fever became available last year, but it is only approved for those aged 9 to 16 who have had a previous infection and live in areas where the disease is endemic.