WHO Issues Global Alert Over ‘Unprecedented Peak’ in Potentially Deadly Disease

Original article here.

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global outbreak alert on Friday due to a significant rise in dengue fever cases.

This alarming increase has seen cases surge 10-fold, from approximately 500,000 to 5.2 million globally, marking an unprecedented peak in the disease’s spread. Notably, 129 countries have reported cases, nearing a historic high. The majority of these infections have occurred in the Americas.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a slight decrease in reported dengue cases. However, the spread of dengue began to intensify again in 2019 and continued to surge throughout 2023.

The WHO has suggested that the El Niño weather phenomenon in 2023 may have exacerbated the spread of dengue by altering precipitation patterns. Additionally, the WHO pointed out that fragile health systems, weakened in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, might have contributed to the outbreak’s severity.

Dengue fever is primarily transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes, with urban and semi-urban areas being the most affected. While most dengue cases are asymptomatic or result in mild illness, some can lead to severe complications, including shock, severe bleeding, organ impairment and even death.

In Peru, over 100,000 people were infected with dengue by June 2023, resulting in more than 200 deaths. The country declared a state of emergency in response to the outbreak. Efforts to control the spread included mass fumigation campaigns aimed at eradicating mosquitoes from stagnant water sources across the region. In the United States, at least 225 dengue cases were reported by August 2023, with Florida being the primary location for these infections.