Dengue in the Americas. A problem of regional health

The Aedes aegypti was almost eradicate from The Americas in the early sixties but reinfested the Region a few years later, and dengue transmission has become a major health problem. The Americas have been affected by dengue epidemics since the 1970s and hemorrhagic fever is becoming a threat for millions of people living in the tropical and subtropical areas of the continent. Resources to cope with the increasing transmission of different serotypes in the Region are scarce. Therefore a regional effort to prevent the dissemination of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is necessary. Public awareness and community participation must be promoted and enhanced in order to decrease the risk of DHF.