International
AHO warns of severe infectious disease surge in the Americas in 2024

Infectious diseases were the most serious public health challenges in the Americas in 2024, with record-breaking outbreaks of dengue fever, avian influenza, and Oropouche virus, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned on Thursday.
In its 2024 Annual Report: Advancing Health to Promote Regional Security, PAHO highlighted a historic surge in infectious diseases across the continent, noting that the Americas are increasingly facing frequent outbreaks of infectious and emerging pathogens.
PAHO reported a record 13 million cases of dengue fever in 2024 — three times more than in 2023 — marking the highest number ever recorded. The outbreak resulted in 7,700 deaths, many among children.
Brazil was the hardest-hit country, accounting for over 10 million cases and nearly 80% of all fatalities. Significant outbreaks were also reported in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico. Together, these four countries made up 90% of all infections in the Americas.
The report also identified avian influenza (H5N1) as one of the region’s top health concerns. In 2024, PAHO confirmed 66 human infections in the United States, one in Canada, and over 1,300 animal outbreaks across other American countries.
“All confirmed human cases so far were the result of animal-to-human transmission. No human-to-human transmission was reported in 2024, which would have posed a far greater threat to public health,” PAHO emphasized.
Additionally, the organization noted a rise in Oropouche virus cases, a mosquito-borne illness similar to dengue. In 2024, there were 11,600 reported infections and two deaths across 12 countries, most of them in Brazil.
Though the Oropouche outbreak is “relatively small,” PAHO urged vigilance as the virus is spreading to new territories.
The organization also warned that the overall situation has been worsened by changing climate patterns, environmental factors, and declining vaccination coverage, all of which contribute to the increased vulnerability of the region to infectious disease outbreaks.
International
Erin brings strong winds and storm surge despite weakening offshore

Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 2 storm on Tuesday but continues to pose a threat to parts of the U.S. East Coast with potentially dangerous flooding, according to meteorologists.
Although the hurricane’s eye is expected to remain offshore, experts are concerned about Erin’s size, as strong winds extend hundreds of kilometers beyond the storm’s center.
In its 18:00 GMT bulletin, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) lifted tropical storm warnings for the Bahamasand Turks and Caicos Islands, but kept them in effect for parts of North Carolina.
Erin was located several hundred kilometers southeast of North Carolina and was moving northwestward.
“This means there is a risk of potentially life-threatening flooding of 60 to 120 centimeters above ground level,” said NHC Director Michael Brennan.
He also warned of the possibility of destructive waves, combined with storm surge, that could cause severe damage to beaches and coastal areas, making roads impassable.
International
Three U.S. Warships deploy near Venezuela to combat drug trafficking

Three U.S. naval vessels are moving toward the coasts of Venezuela, according to international media reports on Tuesday, after White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump is ready to combat and curb international drug trafficking.
Reports indicate that the ships will reach Venezuelan waters within the next 36 hours as part of a recent U.S. deployment aimed at countering international narcotics operations.
The announcement coincides with Leavitt’s statement that Trump is prepared to “use the full extent of his power” to halt drug flows into the United States. The naval deployment involves approximately 4,000 military personnel.
“The President has been clear and consistent. He is ready to use every element of U.S. power to prevent drugs from flooding our country and to bring those responsible to justice. The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela—it is a narco-terror cartel,” the spokesperson said during a press conference.
International
Cuban authorities free salvadoran convicted in 1997 hotel bombing

Salvadoran national Otto René Rodríguez Llerena was released after serving a 30-year prison sentence for his involvement in a terrorist attack at a hotel in Cuba in 1997, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
During his trial, Rodríguez Llerena admitted to placing an explosive device at the Meliá Cohiba Hotel under the orders of anti-Castro exile leaders. He was arrested the following year when he returned to Havana with another load of explosives that failed to detonate.
“The Cuban government reiterates its commitment to combating terrorism, respecting human rights, and the need for the international community to hold accountable those who promote such acts,” the statement read.
He was released on August 15 and is the second Salvadoran to complete his sentence. In December of last year, another Salvadoran, Ernesto Cruz León, was released after planting bombs at tourist centers, one of which killed an Italian tourist identified as Fabio Di Celmo.
A third Salvadoran, Francisco Chávez Abarca, also received a 30-year sentence from Cuban courts in 2010 after being extradited from Venezuela through Interpol for actions against Cuba.
Rodríguez Llerena had requested conditional release in 2016, arguing that his actions had not caused any direct fatalities, but no further information was released about his situation until now.
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