Colombia dengue cases near 250,000 in 2024
A significant increase in the reporting of dengue cases was observed at the national level compared to the last ten years
In Colombia, through August 10, 243,538 cases of dengue have been reported to El Sistema de Salud Pública (SIVIGILA) for a national incidence of 730.2 cases per 100,000 population.
To date, 2,270 cases of severe dengue have reported.106 deaths from dengue have been confirmed nationwide for a mortality rate of 0.31 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and a fatality rate of 0.04%.
In 2023, Colombia reported 130,070 cases and 90 fatalities.
At the national level, the event has remained above expectations during 2024, compared to its historical behavior. However, a downward trend has been noted in recent weeks.
By geographic region, the Andean and Pacific regions accounted for 83.8% (204,186) of the country's cases and 69.8% (74) of confirmed deaths; however, the highest incidence rates were observed in the Amazon, Orinoquía and Pacific regions; the highest fatality rates were observed in the Amazon region.
As of August 10, 78.3% (190,682) of the accumulated cases at the national level come from Valle del Cauca, Cali, Santander, Tolima, Huila, Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Cauca, Norte de Santander and Risaralda.
52.8% (56) of confirmed deaths from dengue are concentrated in the departments of Valle del Cauca, Santander, Tolima, Huila and Putumayo, while the territorial entities with the highest dengue fatalities (>0.10%) were La Guajira, Putumayo, Cesar, Boyacá, Atlántico and Bolívar.
Since 2007, fluctuating dengue behavior has been observed in Colombia with epidemic cycles approximately every three years (2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2023), with the 2023-2024 epidemic cycle (preliminary data) being the one that records the highest number of cases reported to date, but the lowest dengue fatality rate compared to previous epidemics.
Final thoughts
During the 2023-2024 dengue epidemic, a significant increase in the reporting of dengue cases was observed at the national level compared to the last ten years, however, the lowest dengue fatality rate was observed compared to previous epidemics.
The highest incidence rates were observed in children under 17 years of age, while the highest dengue fatality rates were observed in the group over 65 years of age, followed by the group from 0 to 4 years of age.
During 2023-2024, the circulation of the four serotypes of the Dengue virus continues and according to genetic diversity, the Cosmopolitan genotype was identified in the DENV-2 serotype, but despite this, the Asian-American genotype remains dominant in this serotype, while in the other serotypes (DENV -1, -3, -4) the genetic diversity does not change.
During 2024, the identification of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus continues, with new records of the latter being observed in four departments: Boyacá, Córdoba, Guainía and Tolima.