International
The US warns of the threat of dengue in the country after cases skyrocketed in the world
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are alerting doctors and local health authorities, especially in the southern U.S., about the threat of dengue in the country after the disease skyrocketed globally.
“Althog there are currently no reports of an outbreak in the continental area of the United States, cases around the world have increased at an alarming rate,” Gabriela Paz-Bailey, director of the CDC’s Dengue Office, based in Atlanta, Georgia, told EFE.
According to data from the agency, so far this year a total of 2,241 cases have been reported in the United States, an increase compared to 2023, taking into account that 3,036 were registered throughout the year.
Photograph of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, responsible for the transmission of dengue. EFE/Andre Borges
Of the total number of cases so far in 2024, 1,498 were counted in Puerto Rico, where local authorities declared a state of emergency in March after registering historical figures of this disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, also a carrier of Chikunguña, yellow fever and Zika.
“The increase in travel during the summer to places where dengue is common can lead to greater local transmission in the United States, so it is important for health professionals to test patients who have a fever and have traveled to places where dengue is frequent,” Paz-Bailey said.
Therefore, the epidemiologist urges those who travel to these countries to use repellent, because they want to prevent them from returning with the virus and it from spreading in the United States, since the mosquito is present in several states of the country, especially in the south.
“This imports of the virus by case of dengue in travelers can result in it being transmitted locally, although they are generally short chains of transmission and outbreaks that can be controlled, they are not the explosive outbreaks we see in Puerto Rico,” Paz-Bailey stressed.
Historically, local cases have been reported in Hawaii, Florida and Texas, and have recently been reported in Arizona and California, according to the director of the Dengue Office.
“But where we expect there to be more possibilities of transmission is in the southern United States, where the Aedes aegypti mosquito exists, and Florida has been one of the states that has reported the most locally acquired cases,” said the expert, who assures that heat is a factor that is contributing to the increase in cases globally.
Paz-Bailey explains that the mosquito is now present in areas where it could not survive before because the temperatures were lower. Likewise, hurricanes, floods and other “extreme phenomena” generate favorable conditions to generate breeding sites for these insects and thus multiply.
According to the CDC, approximately one in four people infected with the dengue virus – for which there is no specific drug to treat – get sick and some of them suffer from serious symptoms that can be life-threatening in a few hours, so hospitalization is required.
International
Mexico City Mayor Invites U2 to Perform at Iconic Zócalo Plaza
Irish rock band U2, which spent Tuesday and Wednesday filming a new music video for its song Street of Dreams in the Historic Center of Mexico City, received an invitation to perform at the capital’s iconic Zócalo square from Mayor Clara Brugada.
Brugada shared the invitation through social media posts accompanied by photos and a video showing her meeting with the band members.
“This is an invitation for you to perform in our wonderful public square, the Zócalo. You are welcome here, and we would love to have you,” Brugada said in the video while handing a document to Bono, the band’s lead singer.
Bono responded by saying that the group would like “to begin its new tour in Mexico City.”
Referencing one of the band’s most famous songs, In the Name of Love, Brugada said she was greeting Bono along with The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr..
“Welcoming U2 to our capital means celebrating music, connection and the emotion that can be felt in every corner of this city,” Brugada wrote in one of her messages. “We are a city open to the world, vibrant and full of stories shared from the stage to the streets.”
She also described the Zócalo as “the country’s most important public square” and a cultural landmark for Latin America.
Over the years, the Zócalo has hosted massive concerts by internationally renowned artists and bands including Roger Waters, Paul McCartney, Manu Chao, Café Tacvba, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Los Tigres del Norte, La Maldita Vecindad, Silvio Rodríguez, Joan Manuel Serrat, Rosalía and Shakira, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans.
International
Marco Rubio Urges China to Help Restrain Iran Amid Gulf Tensions
Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Washington hopes to persuade China to take a more active role in stopping Iran from escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, arguing that the crisis directly threatens Asian commercial interests.
“It is in China’s interest to resolve this situation. We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to stop what it is doing now and trying to do in the Persian Gulf,” Rubio said during an interview with journalist Sean Hannity on Fox News while traveling aboard Air Force One.
The top U.S. diplomat said the conflict and concerns over the possible disruption of the Strait of Hormuz have already affected China’s interests.
Rubio noted that “a Chinese cargo ship was struck over the weekend,” referring to the exchange of attacks reported last Friday between Iran and the United States.
The remarks come amid growing international concern over rising tensions in the region and the potential impact on global trade routes and energy supplies.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
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