Dengue fever is sweeping across the Caribbean and the Americas, with a record 12.6 million suspected cases of the mosquito-transmitted virus reported this year, nearly triple the number from last year.

Dengue is surging across the Americas early this year from Puerto Rico to Brazil.

Cholera cases are overwhelming Haiti and experts warn the situation could worsen now that the country is bustling once again after a paralyzing fuel blockade that lasted two months.

Haiti has long perplexed experts with seemingly low infection and death rates from COVID-19 despite its rickety public health system, a total lack of vaccines and a widespread disdain for safety measures.

AdThe organization said in a news release Monday that 36 countries in the region will receive vaccines through the initiative. Of those, 26 will do so through their own funds while 10 will receive the vaccines for free. Its government expects to get 20 million doses of vaccines through the COVAX initiative this year. In addition, Peru, El Salvador and Bolivia will also receive Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines soon once administrative, legal and regulatory requirements are met. Last week, Ghana was the first country in the world to receive vaccines through the COVAX initiative.