REDESCA urges to ensure fair access and preventive measures against dengue in the region

April 26, 2024

Washington, D.C.- The Office of the Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (REDESCA) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) has expressed concern over the growing public health crisis resulting from the dengue outbreak affecting several countries in the Americas. In this context, REDESCA calls on the states in the region to implement public policies with a human rights-based approach to protect the life, health, and personal integrity of all individuals.

Dengue, primarily transmitted by the infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, affects people of all ages, with symptoms ranging from mild to debilitating fevers, accompanied by severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash. The disease can progress to severe forms, primarily characterized by shock, respiratory distress, and/or severe organ damage.

The disease spans nearly the entire region, putting at risk approximately 500 million people. According to the latest report published by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), between epidemiological weeks 1 and 11 of 2024, there were a total of 3,665,589 suspected cases of dengue and 1,187 deaths. These infection figures represent a 286% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Dengue disproportionately impacts poor and vulnerable populations, including indigenous communities, where the lack of access to basic health services and vector control exacerbates the situation.

Although it has become an endemic disease in many countries of the region, REDESCA observes an exponential increase in its incidence, surpassing previous annual records and extending to areas beyond those historically affected. This phenomenon is driven by several external factors, such as climate change and the effects of El Niño, which lead to increased temperatures, precipitation, and extreme weather events. Additionally, the lack of adequate prevention and control measures by health authorities, coupled with rapid urbanization and large population movements, contribute to the spread of the disease. This situation impacts the right to life, personal integrity, and health of the people in the region, exacerbating existing inequalities and disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable groups.

REDESCA emphasizes the importance for the affected states, based on the best available scientific evidence, to evaluate the implementation of vaccination strategies against the disease as a way to prevent, contain, and stop its transmission, considering the recommendations of PAHO and the PAHO Technical Advisory Group on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. This evaluation and the decisions that may be taken should be centered on a public health and human rights approach, adhering to the principles of equality and non-discrimination, social participation, access to information, and accountability.

REDESCA urges the states of the region to guarantee equitable and timely access to medical care, as well as to health goods and services for all individuals affected by dengue, on an equal and non-discriminatory basis. It also encourages the implementation of effective adaptation and prevention strategies, including public awareness campaigns aimed at mosquito breeding site elimination, enhanced epidemiological surveillance, and early diagnosis. Additionally, the Office of the Special Rapporteur urges states to strengthen the systems for collecting disaggregated data that include variables such as location, age, gender, and other factors. This will enhance reporting and analytical capabilities and aid in the creation of evidence-based policies. These measures are essential for directing resources and interventions towards the most vulnerable communities, thereby reducing the impact of dengue outbreaks on the population.

The Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights is an office created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) to strengthen the promotion and protection of economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights in the Americas, leading the Commission's efforts in this area.

A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for and to defend human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. RD079/24

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