Dengue Cases Soar in 2024 as 5 Billion may Face Arbovirus Risk by 2050

Approximately four billion individuals globally are in danger of arbovirus infections, with projections showing this number will rise to 5 billion by 2050. Dengue cases have increased in all six WHO regions, with the number of cases nearly doubling each year since 2021, totaling over 12.3 million cases by the end of August this year – almost twice the 6.5 million cases recorded in 2023.

The Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan (SPRP) is initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for addressing dengue and other Aedes-borne arboviruses. The goal is to decrease the impact of diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya by promoting a united international effort.

The Plan provides priority actions to manage transmission and gives suggestions to affected countries in multiple areas, such as disease surveillance, laboratory work, vector control, community involvement, clinical care, and research and development, using a comprehensive and regional strategy.

Dengue is common in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in South-East Asia, the Western Pacific, and the Americas. In Africa, the situation is just as worrying as countries deal with various diseases during conflicts and natural disasters, further stressing already weak health systems. In December 2023, the WHO classified the ongoing worldwide dengue outbreak as grade 3, the most severe level of emergency for the organization, in order to assist countries in enhancing their surveillance abilities and carrying out response measures.