A major outbreak of dengue fever is occurring in Brazil, with a confirmed report of at least one travel-related case in Hawaii.
Combined with an unconfirmed case in Costa Rica and elsewhere, public health experts say the situation is a harbinger of a coming surge in cases in the Americas, including Puerto Rico.
The virus is transmitted through mosquitos and can be fatal.
Brazil’s Health Ministry expects over 4.2 million cases this year, according to the New York Times.
The county’s projected number exceeds the 4.1 million cases the Pan-American Health Organization recorded for all 42 countries in the region in 2023.
The numbers of cases of the virus typically rise and fall on a roughly four-year cycle, experts say.
