Could you be closer to dengue than you think?
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Dengue is as active as ever
Dengue shows no signs of slowing down, outbreaks continue to occur in many parts of the world.1,2 In 2019, during one of the largest global dengue outbreaks in history, all World Health Organization (WHO) regions were affected. North and South America together recorded 3.1 million cases and there were hundreds of thousands of cases in parts of Asia including Bangladesh, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam.2 Also, in 2023, Bangladesh recently experienced its worst outbreak on record with over 1,000 deaths and hospitals critically overwhelmed.3,4 Peru too, in the same year, faced its most severe outbreak ever during which 18 of its 24 provinces were put in a state of emergency.5
“Dengue outbreaks are occurring in many countries of the world in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.”
– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1
Keep one step ahead of dengue
Though most dengue infections are mild and asymptomatic, severe dengue (which occurs in 5% of the people who get sick with dengue symptoms) is a medical emergency that can be life-threatening if untreated.2,6 It is therefore important to know if dengue has spread to your area, so you can help keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Find out if dengue is present where you live here.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/areas-with-risk/. Accessed: December 2023.
World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/dengue-and-severe-dengue. Accessed: December 2023.
Reuters. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/bangladesh-dengue-deaths-top-1000-worst-outbreak-2023-10-02/. Accessed: December 2023.
The Telegraph. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/dengue-death-toll-outbreak-bangladesh-mosquitoes-climate/. Accessed: December 2023.
BMJ 2023;381:p1431. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p1431. Accessed: December 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://emergency.cdc.gov/newsletters/coca/083022.htm. Accessed: December 2023.
Tozan Y, et al. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2019;100(6):1525-1533.
Wilder-Smith A. Paediatr Int Child Health. 2012;32 Suppl 1(s1):28-32.
Rivera A, et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(6):149-154.
If you are traveling, keep on top of dengue at your destination
Dengue is one of the most common fever-causing diseases among travelers returning from Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.7 Although mostly a mild disease, around 1 in 5 travelers with dengue reported in a survey that they were hospitalized because of their illness while abroad.2,7
What’s more, as a traveler you can bring dengue back home with you.8 In a study of travel-associated and locally acquired dengue cases in the United States, as many as 1 in 3 travelers infected with this disease abroad were hospitalized when they returned home.9
Find out if you could be exposed to dengue at your destination here.
Other things to keep in mind are the season during which you travel and whether you stay in an urban or rural area, as this can affect the risk of contracting dengue at your destination. Find out more about how seasonality, urbanization and climate change impact dengue spread and risk here.
Though often mild, dengue can be serious.2 Always speak to a healthcare professional if you have any questions or concerns about dengue.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/areas-with-risk/. Accessed: December 2023.
World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/dengue-and-severe-dengue. Accessed: December 2023.
Reuters. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/bangladesh-dengue-deaths-top-1000-worst-outbreak-2023-10-02/. Accessed: December 2023.
The Telegraph. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/dengue-death-toll-outbreak-bangladesh-mosquitoes-climate/. Accessed: December 2023.
BMJ 2023;381:p1431. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p1431. Accessed: December 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://emergency.cdc.gov/newsletters/coca/083022.htm. Accessed: December 2023.
Tozan Y, et al. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2019;100(6):1525-1533.
Wilder-Smith A. Paediatr Int Child Health. 2012;32 Suppl 1(s1):28-32.
Rivera A, et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(6):149-154.