The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning about the rise in dengue infections globally in 2023, which poses a potential high health threat to the public, News About Nigeria reports.
The UN health agency reported over five million cases of dengue infections and 5,000 deaths worldwide in 2023.
Dr. Diana Alvarez, WHO Team Lead on Arboviruses, briefed journalists at the UN headquarters in Geneva on Friday, pointing out the seriousness of the threat.
She called for a collective response from all levels of the UN health agency to assist countries in controlling current dengue outbreaks and preparing for the upcoming dengue season.
Dengue, the most common viral infection transmitted to humans through mosquito bites, is prevalent in urban areas within tropical and sub-tropical climates.
The increase in reported cases is linked to the expansion of infected mosquitoes to more regions due to global warming associated with rising emissions.
Dr. Alvarez noted how rising temperatures, humidity levels, and rainfall are some of the ways that climate change affects the spread of dengue fever.
She explained that these mosquitoes are highly sensitive to temperature changes.
While the majority of the four billion people at risk from dengue may be symptom-free and recover within one to two weeks, severe cases can lead to shock, severe bleeding, or organ impairment.
WHO said that early detection and access to proper medical care are crucial for lowering the probability of death due to severe dengue.
Since the beginning of the year, over five million cases and about 5,000 deaths from dengue have been reported globally, with close to 80 percent of cases in the Americas, followed by Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, according to Dr. Alvarez.
She also voiced concern about dengue epidemics in eastern Mediterranean nations such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, which are unstable and plagued by conflict.
According to WHO, the 2023 El Niño event, which worsened the effects of global warming and climate change, resulted in a shift in the global prevalence of mosquitoes in recent years.
