Puerto Rico Health Secretary Víctor Ramos Otero reported on Tuesday 3,061 new influenza cases in the past week, for 19,452 cumulative cases this season, saying the island is below the epidemic threshold. Speaking at the En Récord press conference at La Fortaleza, he said 78.6% of cases are influenza type A, with the most infections among children aged 0 to 4.
Hospitalization stands at 6.4%, and the Caguas region leads with 4,084 cases. The department counts 30 influenza-associated deaths this season, three deaths under investigation, 296,307 vaccines administered and 12 outbreaks in educational institutions. Ramos Otero said influenza is only now starting to rise through February and urged people to get vaccinated.
For COVID-19 he reported 1,966 cases for the week, 49 hospitalizations and 88 cumulative deaths, with transmission still high; he confirmed classrooms have been closed over infections in public and private schools in various towns. For respiratory syncytial virus, 85 new cases (1,370 cumulative), 561 hospitalizations this season and one death. Dengue had no new cases, with 958 cumulative infections, four deaths and two under investigation.
Naida Román, director of the Suicide Prevention Commission, said 741 people visited an emergency room for suicidal behavior in 2025, based on data from 37 of 87 facilities that could report. More than 60% were men, and ages 15 to 24 had the most visits. Over 80% of suicide deaths in Puerto Rico are men.
Preliminarily, 136 suicide deaths have been recorded in 2026, about 22 fewer than the comparable period last year. One in five visits led to hospitalization or transfer to a psychiatric facility. Support is available by calling 988.