Country: World Source: Pan American Health Organization Lyon, France, 8 April 2026 (PAHO) – The escalating surge of dengue and other arboviral diseases is a direct indicator of how environmental changes are reshaping global public health, underscored the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, during his remarks at the One Health Summit in Lyon, France. Speaking at the side event, ‘From Vectors to Zoonoses: Anticipating, Managing, and Reducing Infectious Risks through the One Health Approach,’ the Director highlighted the unprecedented scale of the current crisis. In 2024, the Region of the Americas recorded over 13 million cases of dengue and more than 8400 deaths, marking the largest epidemic on record. ‘Dengue is no longer just a tropical disease,’ Dr. Barbosa said. ‘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.’ During his intervention, 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. Regional leadership and innovation 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. PAHO’s work in the region includes: Integrated surveillance: Implementing collaborative surveillance as an early warning system to anticipate risks by integrating signals from human, animal, and environmental health. The Disease Elimination Initiative: A regional effort to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions by 2030 by addressing environmental determinants of health. Access to essential tools: Leveraging PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds to ensure timely access to quality-assured vaccines, including those for yellow fever and emerging dengue tools. Capacity building: Utilizing the PAHO Virtual Campus for Public Health, which has already trained over 797,000 health professionals worldwide in dengue diagnosis and clinical management. Strategic partnerships Dr. Barbosa emphasized the critical role of PAHO Collaborating Centers and international partners such as the Pasteur Network, Fiocruz, and DNDi, among others. These partnerships are essential for advancing scientific research, operational cooperation, and shared learning. ‘No institution can address these threats alone,’ he said. ‘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 Government of France in the context of the G7, dedicated to fostering dialogue and identifying concrete priorities for coordinated, science-based responses to infectious risks. During his visit to France, Dr. Barbosa is also participating in the First Global Forum of World Health Organization Collaborating Centers (WHOCC), held in the sidelines of the One Health Summit 2026. Under the theme, ‘Collaborating for a Healthier Future,’ the Forum brings together global experts from hundreds of institutions designated as WHO Collaborating Centers across more than 80 countries, with the aim of strengthening scientific and technical collaboration. News Releases Dengue Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO/WHO Director One Health

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