Governments and global health Dengue experts are issuing warnings regarding the unprecedented and widespread transmission of dengue, an infamous and incurable disease that now threatens approximately half of the world’s population. Dengue, traditionally prevalent in warm climates, is now surfacing in regions previously unaffected, including Europe and parts of the U.S. By early December, the global count of dengue infections for the year had surpassed five million, a stark rise from 500,000 cases in 2000, spread across over 80 countries and territories. The death toll has exceeded 5,500 in 2023, according to Save the Children.
Dengue
In an alarming development, California reported its first case of locally-transmitted dengue in October, while Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, faced its initial recorded instance in March, straining its already underfunded healthcare system. Simultaneously, in nations where dengue was already endemic, the virus has proliferated on an unprecedented scale. Bangladesh, experiencing its worst outbreak, reported cases in all 64 districts, with 291,832 infections and 1,476 fatalities by mid-November. Peru’s health minister resigned amid a severe outbreak that led to a state of emergency being declared in many parts of the country.
A risk assessment by the Pan-American Health Organization highlighted concerns about inadequate dengue surveillance and management systems, raising fears of undetected cases and unrecorded travel movements contributing to unnoticed disease spread.
Dengue, for which there is currently no antiviral treatment, is transmitted by infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The disease has seen a surge attributed partially to the resurgence of global travel post-COVID pandemic and the El Niño weather phenomenon, contributing to warmer temperatures. Climate change, with rising global temperatures, has expanded the territories suitable for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, increasing the threat to southern parts of the U.S., Europe, and new regions in Africa.
Urbanization is also implicated in transmission, as informal urban settlements without access to plumbing networks create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The surge in dengue cases is straining healthcare systems globally, prompting concerns about the human toll of inadequate governmental responses.
Efforts to combat dengue include traditional methods like fumigation, though their effectiveness is diminishing due to mosquito resistance. The World Mosquito Program is pioneering an innovative approach, releasing mosquitoes bred with Wolbachia bacteria to block the transmission of, Zika, and yellow fever. However, public skepticism and opposition pose challenges to these initiatives.
Authorities recommend protective measures such as using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved clothing, installing insect screens, and eliminating stagnant water. Dengue vaccines, including Qdenga and Dengvaxia, are available, but public trust was compromised in some regions due to reported side effects.
As dengue continues to spread, governments worldwide are sharing best practices to prevent and manage the disease, emphasizing community involvement and adequate funding to anticipate climate-related risks.
