Adapted from a commentary on The Conversation by Simon Bishop, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health at Anglia Ruskin University.
Dengue fever, a potentially fatal mosquito-borne viral disease, is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, this once sporadic disease is now displaying a concerning pattern. Not only is the number of dengue infections on the rise worldwide, but outbreaks are growing larger and increasingly unpredictable. In 2019, dengue fever cases reached an all-time high, nearly doubling the previous year’s numbers. July 2023 saw a record number of deaths from dengue in Bangladesh, raising alarm bells around the world
Dangers of Severe Dengue
Dengue fever typically presents with flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, and joint pain. However, severe cases can lead to life-threatening complications. The virus damages blood vessels, causing bleeding, bruising, and, in the worst scenarios, organ failure and shock. This progression from mild symptoms to life-threatening conditions makes dengue a grave global concern.
The Culprit: Aedes Aegypti Mosquito
The primary vector responsible for transmitting the dengue virus is the Asian Tiger mosquito, Aedes aegypti. This mosquito, primarily native to tropical areas, has proven to be a highly adaptable insect. In recent years, it has expanded its range beyond the tropics, even reaching southern Europe and various U.S. states, including Florida, Hawaii, Texas, and Arizona.
Aedes aegypti requires water for breeding, and its ability to use even the tiniest water containers, such as discarded bottle caps, aids in its proliferation. Still, the availability of breeding sites usually limits the mosquito population and the spread of the dengue virus. However, Bangladesh’s early rains, combined with unusually high temperatures and humidity, created the ideal conditions for a mosquito population surge, with its population having easy access to the local community.
The Role of Climate Change
While the exact reasons behind the increasing and unpredictable dengue outbreaks remain uncertain, climate change might be a contributing factor. As the world becomes warmer and wetter, it offers an environment conducive to mosquito breeding. High-income countries are less likely to experience major outbreaks due to their indoor-centric lifestyles, which protect them from mosquito exposure. However, the situation is different in middle- and low-income countries, where people spend more time outdoors and often live in houses vulnerable to mosquito infiltration.
The Global Dengue Challenge
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue may soon establish itself in parts of Europe, the United States, and Africa, where it was previously absent. The risk of dengue outbreaks repeating the Bangladesh scenario is higher in middle- and low-income countries where human-mosquito interactions are frequent. The most viable solution appears to be an affordable and effective vaccine.
A Glimpse at the Future
The WHO has recently recommended dengue vaccination for children in regions where dengue poses a major public health problem. Moreover, as global efforts to combat dengue intensify, we’re also witnessing promising advancements in diagnostics. The development of point-of-care dengue detection kits enhances our ability to rapidly diagnose the disease, which helps to determine the course of action or treatment for a patient at consultation.
Key Takeaways
Dengue isn’t the sole concern, as Aedes aegypti also transmits other deadly infections like chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika virus. A warmer, wetter, and less predictable climate is likely to lead to more mosquito-related disease outbreaks and fatalities in the future.
Once again, the burden of these life-threatening diseases will fall disproportionately on the world’s poorest communities in the tropical regions. As dengue’s global resurgence continues, it is essential to understand the multifaceted factors contributing to this menace and act collectively to combat it. Dengue may be a disease found in tropical climates, but it is evidently a global issue that requires a united effort to find sustainable solutions.
Link to the commentary: https://theconversation.com/dengue-why-is-this-sometimes-fatal-disease-increasing-around-the-world-215008
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