"Puerto Rico has issued a public health emergency after recording an unusually rapid rise in dengue cases over the first few months of this year.

It's the latest area to grapple with a surge of infections of the mosquito-borne disease, which sickens an estimated 100–400 million people globally each year.

According to Puerto Rico's health department, the territory has recorded 549 cases since the start of the year, nearly half of which have occurred in the San Juan region. Puerto Rico saw a total of 1,293 cases throughout all of last year, the Associated Press reported."

Joe Hernandez reports for NPR March 27, 2024. [2]