2023-07-21 19:50:51
Record High Cases of Dengue Fever Expected Worldwide Due to Climate Change, Warns WHO
The number of cases of dengue fever is predicted to reach a record high worldwide this year, and climate change is partly to blame, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The warming global temperatures create favorable conditions for the mosquitoes that spread the disease.
Currently, around half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting dengue fever, says a health organization specialist. In January, the WHO already issued a warning about the rapid spread of this tropical disease and the imminent threat of a pandemic.
One country currently experiencing a severe dengue outbreak is Peru. Last month, it was announced that the death toll in Peru has risen to 248, and hospitals are struggling to accommodate the influx of patients. To address this crisis, President Dina Boluarte has declared a state of emergency in 18 out of the country’s 24 regions.
Peruvian health authorities also attribute the worsening outbreak to the impact of El Niño. The warming of seawater has resulted in an increased population of dengue mosquitoes, ultimately leading to more cases of dengue fever.
Dengue fever is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, particularly the yellow fever mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito. It is the most common mosquito-borne viral infectious disease, with approximately 400 million people infected annually. While most people are asymptomatic, around 100 million individuals fall ill, and 500,000 become seriously ill. Dengue fever is fatal in less than 1% of cases.
The mosquitoes that carry the virus primarily inhabit tropical and subtropical regions, including Africa, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
Common symptoms of dengue fever include high fever with chills, vomiting, coughing, severe headaches behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain. These symptoms typically last for a week to two weeks and can become more severe with subsequent infections.
Experts believe that a warmer climate accelerates mosquito reproduction, and the virus within mosquitoes multiplies more rapidly in warm weather. However, it is still too early to determine whether the ongoing heatwaves are influencing the spread of dengue, according to the WHO.
In the Netherlands, the tiger mosquito, a carrier of dengue fever, has reappeared in recent years. Although it does not naturally occur in the country, sporadic reports of its presence have been made. It is suspected that the mosquito is inadvertently transported via international truck shipments of items such as car tires and bamboo plants.
Dengue fever in the Netherlands is solely imported and occurs when individuals are bitten by infected mosquitoes while traveling abroad. Approximately 150 cases are reported each year, and dengue fever is not transmitted from person to person.
Since April 2023, a dengue vaccine has been available in the Netherlands to protect travelers. Previously, the only preventive measures were wearing protective clothing and using mosquito repellents.]
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