Dengue kills 5,000 persons, infects five million others globally

World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of a rise in new cases and deaths in previously untouched countries, even as it said this year’s spike in dengue infections globally represents a potentially high public health threat.

The warning came as the organisation reported more than five million infections and 5,000 fatalities from the disease worldwide. Briefing journalists at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Team Lead on Arboviruses, Dr Diana Rojas Alvarez, said the threat required “the maximal attention and response from all levels” of the United Nations health agency to support countries in controlling current outbreaks and preparing for the upcoming season.

Dengue is the most common viral infection transmitted to humans, bitten by infected mosquitoes. It is mostly found in urban areas within tropical and sub-tropical climates.

The rise in the number of reported cases is explained by the fact that infected insects now thrive in more countries because of global warming.
“Climate change has an impact in dengue transmission because it increases rainfall, humidity and temperature,” said Alvarez, adding: “These mosquitoes are very sensitive to temperature.”

Although four billion people are at risk of dengue, most of those infected are symptom-free and usually recover within one to two weeks.

However, severe infections are marked by shock, severe bleeding or organ impairment, WHO noted.  It also highlighted that these dangerous symptoms often start “after the fever has gone away,” catching carers and medical professionals unawares.

Warning signs to look out for include intense abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding gums, fluid accumulation, lethargy, restlessness and liver enlargement.

As there is no specific treatment for dengue, early detection and access to proper medical care are crucial to check mortality. She continued: “Since the beginning of this year, over five million cases and about 5,000 deaths of dengue have been reported worldwide, and close to 80 per cent of those cases have been reported in the Americas, followed by Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.

“It is also concerning that dengue outbreaks are occurring in fragile and conflict-affected countries in the eastern Mediterranean region such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.

“The global prevalence of mosquitoes has changed in the last few years owing to the 2023 El Niño phenomenon, which accentuated the effects of global warming temperatures and climate change.”