Dengue Fever Pandemic: A Growing Global Concern as Cases Skyrocket

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an urgent appeal, noting that dengue fever has become a growing public health problem worldwide. Since the beginning of 2023, more than 5 million dengue cases and more than 5,000 dengue-related deaths have been reported in six WHO regions around the world.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an urgent appeal, noting that dengue fever has become a growing public health problem worldwide. Since the beginning of 2023, more than 5 million dengue cases and more than 5,000 dengue-related deaths have been reported in six WHO regions around the world.

As of 30 April 2024, more than 7.6 million cases of dengue have been reported to WHO worldwide, including 3.4 million confirmed cases, more than 16,000 severe cases, and more than 3,000 deaths. The number of dengue cases has increased significantly globally compared to the past five years, especially in the Americas, where the number of cases has exceeded 7 million, breaking the annual record set in 2023.

Currently, 90 countries worldwide are known to have active dengue transmission. Due to the lack of robust detection and reporting mechanisms in many endemic countries, the true global burden of dengue is underestimated. To more effectively control transmission, WHO is calling on countries to strengthen dengue surveillance systems to keep abreast of the situation and address potential undetected cases, co-circulation and the risk of being misdiagnosed as other arboviruses.

The dengue virus is mainly transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, and most cases are asymptomatic or present only as a mild febrile illness. However, some cases will progress to severe dengue, which may involve shock, severe bleeding, or severe organ damage. With the intensification of the global warming trend, the transmission range and season of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever may be further extended. Who therefore reminds governments and the public to be vigilant and strengthen prevention and control measures.