Could you be closer to dengue than you think?
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.
It’s time to talk about dengue
With dengue cases rising and no specific cure available, prevention is key1,2
Learn how to help protect yourself from mosquito bites and from dengue.
Contact your local health expert to talk about how to help prevent dengue.
- World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue. Accessed February 2024.
- World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2023-DON498#. Accessed February 2024.
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Test your knowledge of dengue!
Can bites from male or female dengue-carrying mosquitoes infect humans?
Correct
Male mosquitoes feed on flower nectar and fruit juices and not blood.1 Only female mosquitoes feed on hosts such as humans, whose blood provides the protein they need to help their eggs develop.1
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you suspect you have symptoms of dengue or have questions about your risk.
Learn more about dengue.
The National Environment Agency. Vector Borne Diseases. Available at: https://www.nea.gov.sg/corporate-functions/resources/research/wolbachia-aedes-mosquito-suppression-strategy/male-mosquitoes-do-not-bite. Accessed January 2024.
Incorrect
Diseases such as dengue are not spread to humans by the bites of male Aedes mosquitoes; in fact, they don’t even bite humans.1 Only female mosquitoes feed on hosts such as humans, whose blood provides the protein they need to help their eggs develop.1
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you suspect you have symptoms of dengue or have questions about your risk.
Learn more about dengue or try again!
The National Environment Agency. Vector Borne Diseases. Available at: https://www.nea.gov.sg/corporate-functions/resources/research/wolbachia-aedes-mosquito-suppression-strategy/male-mosquitoes-do-not-bite. Accessed January 2024.
Test your knowledge of dengue!
By about how much has the number of reported dengue cases increased in the last two decades?
Correct
The number of reported dengue cases has increased over eightfold in the last two decades, from 505,430 cases in 2000 to over 4.2 million in 2019.1
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you have questions about your risk.
Learn more about dengue.
Zeng Z, et al. EClinicalMedicine. 2021;32:100712.
Incorrect
The number of reported dengue cases has increased over eightfold in the last two decades, from 505,430 cases in 2000 to over 4.2 million in 2019.1
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you have questions about your risk.
Learn more about dengue or try again!
Zeng Z, et al. EClinicalMedicine. 2021;32:100712.
Test your knowledge of dengue!
By what other name is dengue sometimes referred to?
Correct
Dengue is also known as ‘breakbone fever’ due to the severe muscle and joint pain that can occur in some symptomatic patients.1
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you have questions about your risk.
Learn more about dengue.
8. Whitehorn J and Farrar J. British Medical Bulletin. 2010; 95:161-173.
Dengue has historically been known as ‘breakbone fever’, due to the severe muscle and joint pain that can occur in some symptomatic patients.1
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you have questions about your risk.
Learn more about dengue or try again!
Whitehorn J and Farrar J. British Medical Bulletin. 2010; 95:161-173.
Test your knowledge of dengue!
Is there a specific cure or treatment available for dengue?
Correct
There is no specific treatment for dengue – the focus is on managing the symptoms. Most cases of dengue fever can be treated at home, however, for those who develop severe dengue, hospitalization is often needed.1
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you suspect you have symptoms of dengue.
Learn more about dengue.
World Health Organization [WHO]. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue. Accessed May 2024.
Incorrect
There is no specific treatment for dengue – the focus is on managing the symptoms. Most cases of dengue fever can be treated at home, however, for those who develop severe dengue, hospitalization is often needed.1
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you suspect you have symptoms of dengue.
Learn more about dengue or try again!
World Health Organization [WHO]. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue. Accessed May 2024.
Explore our resources to learn more about the risk of dengue and how you could help protect yourself and your loved ones
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