The Puerto Rico Department of Health declares an influenza epidemic

San Juan.- The Secretary of the Department of Health (DS) of Puerto Rico, Víctor M. Ramos, declared this Tuesday an influenza epidemic in the Caribbean archipelago, after six consecutive weeks with cases above the epidemiological threshold.

“Faced with this statement, we reiterate the call to citizens to take immediate action. Influenza can cause a serious and complicated health condition. The best defense is prevention, through vaccination, hygiene measures, and the responsibility to stay home when symptoms are present,” said the Puerto Rican Secretary of Health in a press conference.

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During the 2025/2026 season, a significant increase was recorded in the reported cases, according to the criteria established by the Epidemiological Surveillance System and the incidence indicators and growth rates of the virus. By epidemiological week number 2, between January 11 and 17, 2026, 42,183 cases of influenza were reported, of which approximately 46.4% are from the pediatric population. Furthermore, health authorities reported 3,001 hospitalizations and 128 deaths associated with influenza. Of the total number of deaths, 96.1% of the people had not been vaccinated against influenza, which underlines the importance of immunization as the main prevention strategy. The highest number of cases was reported in the southern municipality of Ponce with 8,392, followed by Caguas, a northern municipality, with 8,179 and by Bayamón, in the north, which reported 7,111. The overall incidence rate stands at 1,309 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In this context, Ramos emphasized that the response to the influenza epidemic is based on these strategic pillars, which guide actions at the central and regional levels: detection, surveillance, vaccination, treatment, community outreach, and educational campaign. For her part, Puerto Rico’s chief epidemiology officer, Miriam V. Ramos, explained that the agency maintains continuous monitoring of influenza transmission through multiple surveillance systems. “Wastewater surveillance and syndromic surveillance, tools that allow us to identify trends, anticipate increases, and issue timely recommendations for prevention,” said the epidemiologist. As of today, 365,508 influenza vaccines have been administered during the 2025/2026 season throughout Puerto Rico. Finally, the Secretary of Health reiterated the call to citizens to maintain prevention measures such as: frequent hand washing, covering oneself when coughing or sneezing, avoiding close contact with sick people, and wearing a mask in crowded places. An epidemic is a sudden and higher-than-expected increase in the number of cases of a disease, in this case influenza. To declare an influenza epidemic, Puerto Rico must be for six consecutive weeks with a record above the epidemic threshold. The symptoms of influenza include fever or feeling feverish and chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache, fatigue, as well as vomiting or diarrhea.