Puerto Rico Declares State of Emergency Due to Influenza Outbreak

MIAMI - The Secretary of the Department of Health (DS), Dr. Víctor M. Ramos Otero, and the Governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González Colón, have declared a state of emergency on the Caribbean island due to a significant rise in reported influenza cases during the 2025-2026 flu season.

“Faced with this declaration, we reiterate the call to the public to take immediate action,” said Otero, adding:

“Influenza can cause a serious and complicated health condition. The best defense is prevention, through vaccination, hygiene measures, and the responsibility of staying home when symptoms are present. We will continue to expand access to the vaccine and strengthen prevention throughout the Island.”

In week 2 of the influenza season, which typically peaks between December and February, the island reported 42,183 cases, almost half of which targeted the pediatric population, with the southern coastal city of Ponce reporting the highest number of cases, with 8,392, followed by Caguas (8,179) and Bayamón (7,111).

Puerto Rico has now entered its sixth consecutive week of elevated influenza cases reported, while the health care system has sustained increased hospitalizations and fatalities, according to the island’s health department.

The declaration allows the government to activate extraordinary measures to combat the spread of the virus and reduce the number of recorded cases in an effort to ensure the safety of the public.