On 30 January 2024, the International Health Regulations National Focal Point (IHR NFP) of Uruguay notified the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) of a confirmed human case of WEE. The case, a 42-year-old person from a rural area in the Department of San Jose, is the first human case of WEE in Uruguay since 2009.
WEE is a rare viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes affecting both equines and humans. Human cases are often associated with outbreaks in birds or horses. The virus can be spread through the migration of infected birds or the movement of people and animals carrying the virus.
