Year in Review Health & Medicine

These are the viruses that defined 2024

This year included record-breaking surges in dengue and mpox cases, a polio outbreak in Gaza and more

A person wearing personal protective gear sprays insecticide at a mall to kill mosquitoes.

A health worker in Brazil sprays insecticide at a mall to kill dengue-carrying mosquitoes. Of more than 12 million cases globally this year, most occurred in the Americas.

ANDRESSA ANHOLETE/GETTY IMAGES

By Erin Garcia de Jesús

From mpox to bird flu and beyond, multiple infectious disease outbreaks flared up around the world this year.

Dengue cases soared

It was a record year for dengue fever, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes.