The Battle Against Dengue Fever: Experts Unite to Combat the Global Scourge

Experts from around the world gathered at the 7th Asian Dengue Summit in Malaysia on June 5 to discuss the global burden of dengue fever. The disease, which was once confined to Southeast Asia and Asia, has now spread rapidly and is affecting millions of people worldwide.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned about underestimating the severity of dengue fever at the conference. The number of infected individuals has increased tenfold from 2000 to 2019, with over 7.6 million cases recorded globally by April 30, including a significant rise in cases in the United States.

Factors contributing to the rapid spread of dengue fever include changes in mosquito distribution, increased diversity of disease vectors like Aedes mosquitoes, as well as climate change and the El Nino phenomenon. With population growth and urbanization, the risk of dengue fever is expected to continue rising.

To combat this global health threat, experts discussed various solutions at the conference, such as controlling mosquito populations, developing vaccines and new antiviral drugs. The role of immunity and vaccination in preventing dengue was emphasized, as well as the challenges faced in vaccine development due to virus’s complex antigenic evolution. WHO-approved vaccines like Dengvaxia and Qdenga are currently available in some countries with high dengue burdens.

In addition to these strategies, early detection, clinical management and community engagement were highlighted as crucial components in fighting dengue fever. Initiatives such as Malaysia’s iDengue portal and Young ADVA program were cited as examples of effective ways to raise awareness and prevent the spread of the disease. Ultimately,