The recent and unexpected surge in global dengue infections poses a significant public health threat, warns the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO).
On Friday, WHO reported a staggering five million dengue infections and 5,000 deaths worldwide for the current year.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, Dr. Diana Rojas Alvarez, WHO Team Lead on Arboviruses, emphasized the need for “maximal attention and response from all levels” of the UN health agency.
The goal is to support countries in controlling ongoing dengue outbreaks and preparing for the upcoming dengue season.
Dengue, the most common viral infection transmitted by infected mosquitoes, is prevalent in urban areas within tropical and sub-tropical climates.
The rise in reported cases in more countries is attributed to the expanding habitat of infected mosquitoes, driven by global warming associated with rising emissions.
“Climate change has an impact on dengue transmission because it increases rainfall, humidity, and temperature,” explained Dr. Alvarez. “These mosquitoes are very sensitive to temperature.”
While four billion people are at risk of dengue, most infections are asymptomatic, and individuals typically recover within one to two weeks. However, severe cases can involve shock, severe bleeding, or organ impairment, according to WHO.
The onset of dangerous symptoms often occurs “after the fever has gone away,” catching caregivers and medical professionals off guard. Warning signs include intense abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding gums, fluid accumulation, lethargy, restlessness, and liver enlargement.
Given the absence of a specific treatment for dengue, early detection and access to proper medical care are crucial to reduce the risk of severe cases leading to death.
Dr. Alvarez reported that, since the beginning of the year, over five million cases and about 5,000 deaths from dengue have been reported globally. Nearly 80% of these cases were reported in the Americas, followed by Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.
Expressing additional concern, Dr. Alvarez noted dengue outbreaks in fragile and conflict-affected countries in the eastern Mediterranean region, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen.
WHO highlighted changes in the global prevalence of mosquitoes in recent years due to the 2023 El Niño phenomenon, which amplified the effects of rising global temperatures and climate change.
Notably, previously dengue-free countries such as France, Italy, and Spain reported cases of infections originating domestically—referred to as autochthonous transmission.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito, also known as the “tiger mosquito,” serves as the disease vector and is now widely distributed in Europe.
“Usually, Europe reports imported cases from the Americas, from the Western Pacific, from the endemic regions,” said Dr. Alvarez. “But this year we saw limited clusters of autochthonous transmission. As we know, the summers are getting warmer.”
