2023-12-24 15:50:23
This warning comes as theOMS has reported more than 5 million infections and 5,000 deaths from dengue this year worldwide. Speaking to UN journalists in Geneva, Dr. Diana Rojas Alvarez, Team Leader of theOMS on arboviruses, said the threat required “maximum attention and response at all levels” to help countries control current dengue outbreaks and prepare for the upcoming hot season.
Global warming blamed
Among viral infections transmitted by mosquito bites, dengue fever is the most common in the world. It is mainly found in urban areas in tropical and subtropical climates.
The increase in affected countries is because infected mosquitoes are now thriving in more countries due to global warming, which in turn is associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions.
“Climate change impacts dengue transmission because it increases precipitation, humidity and temperature,” said Dr. Alvarez.
© UNDP Bolivia/Miguel Samper
A health worker fumigates a house in Guayaramerín, Bolivia, to protect against mosquito-borne diseases. (Archives)
Without specific treatment, early detection is essential
Although 4 billion people are at risk of contracting dengue, most infected people have no symptoms and usually recover within one to two weeks.
However, serious symptoms can sometimes appear. These are characterized by shock, bleeding or organ impairment. They often appear after the fever has subsided, taking caregivers and health professionals by surprise.
Warning signs to watch for include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding gums, lethargy, restlessness, and enlarged liver.
As there is no specific treatment for dengue, early detection and access to appropriate medical care are essential to reduce the risk of death from severe dengue.
Fragile and conflict-affected countries are most affected
“Since the start of this year, more than 5 million cases and around 5,000 deaths of dengue have been reported worldwide and almost 80% of these cases have been reported in the Americas, followed by South Asia. Eastern and Western Pacific,” reported Dr. Alvarez.
These dengue outbreaks are occurring in fragile and conflict-affected countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, she worried.
The global prevalence of mosquitoes has changed in recent years due to the 2023 El Niño phenomenon which has accentuated the effects of global warming, the WHO said. Previously dengue-free countries, such as France, Italy and Spain, are reporting cases of infections originating within their countries – so-called “indigenous transmission” – rather than abroad. The vector of the disease is the mosquito Temples of the Egyptianswidely distributed in Europe and also more commonly known as the “tiger mosquito”.
“Usually Europe reports cases imported from the Americas, the Western Pacific, endemic regions,” Dr. Alvarez said. “But this year we have seen limited outbreaks of indigenous transmission. As we know, summers are getting hotter and hotter,” she commented.
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