El Nino rains behind Peru’s worst dengue outbreak, more than 130,000 cases recorded

El Niño, characterized by cyclical warming of the oceans and changes in weather patterns, has resulted in a cyclone and increased precipitation in the Pacific region. Excessive rainfall created mosquito breeding groundsleading to the widespread prevalence of dengue fever.

In response to the surge in cases, Peru’s health officials have implemented measures such as banning residents from storing standing water in open containers. Rosa Gutiérrez, Minister of Health of Peru, said “Dengue kills.”, stressed the urgency of eliminating mosquito breeding sites, highlighting the deadly consequences of dengue fever.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has officially declared the onset of El Niño after a period dominated by La Niña cooling for the past three years. This year’s El Niño is of particular concern, as it resembles the strong El Niño event experienced in 2016, when the world experienced its warmest year on record.

NOAA projects that the intensity of El Niño conditions will gradually increase throughout the year and into 2024. Climate analysts closely monitor Pacific Ocean temperatures and designate a period as El Niño when temperatures near the equator exceed historical averages by at least 0.9 degrees. Fahrenheit for three consecutive months.

Peru has declared a two-month “state of emergency” in 18 of its 24 regions, acknowledging the imminent danger posed by heavy rains this year and next. Michelle L’Heureux, a meteorologist at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, described the situation as unprecedented, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.

Updated: June 12, 2023, 07:18 IST