LYON, France (CMC) — The director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr Jarbas Barbosa, says the escalating surge of dengue and other arboviral diseases is a direct indicator of how environmental changes are reshaping global public health.

“Dengue is no longer just a tropical disease. It is becoming a global indicator of how environmental change is reshaping public health. Arboviral diseases are a powerful reminder that human health cannot be separated from the health of our environment and the systems in which we live,” said Dr Barbosa, during his remarks at the One Health Summit in France.

Speaking at the side event, “From Vectors to Zoonoses: Anticipating, Managing and Reducing Infectious Risks through the One Health Approach”, Dr Barbosa highlighted the unprecedented scale of the current crisis.

In 2024, the region of the Americas, including the Caribbean, recorded over 13 million cases of dengue and more than 8400 deaths, marking the largest epidemic on record.

The PAHO director also called for a shift toward a one health response, which necessitates coordinated action across sectors, including the animal sector, local government, water and sanitation, and environmental agencies, rather than relying on the health sector alone.

Highlighting the decades of operational experience in the Americas, Dr Barbosa noted that the region has developed a resilient infrastructure to manage overlapping threats from dengue, zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Oropouche.

He said PAHO’s work in the region includes implementing collaborative surveillance as an early warning system to anticipate risks by integrating signals from human, animal and environmental health as well as a regional effort to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions by 2030 by addressing environmental determinants of health.

In addition, countries are leveraging PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds to ensure timely access to quality-assured vaccines, including those for yellow fever and emerging dengue tools.

Dr Barbosa emphasised the critical role of PAHO collaborating centres and international partners saying these partnerships are essential for advancing scientific research, operational cooperation and shared learning.

“No institution can address these threats alone. Protecting health in a changing world requires not only knowledge and tools, but also commitment, partnership and sustained action.”

The One Health Summit is a global platform, hosted by the French government and dedicated to fostering dialogue and identifying concrete priorities for coordinated, science-based responses to infectious risks.