Dengue is getting harder to ignore: Take action on World Dengue Day, 15 June 2025

3 mins
World dengue day: approximately 4 billion people are now at risk of dengue infection

 

Dengue is one of the fastest-growing global health threats,1 yet there is still no official World Dengue Day.

 

~Half the world’s population are now at risk of dengue infection.2 Cases are rising, with a record number of over 13 million dengue cases reported in 2024.3

 

Dengue is spread by mosquitoes.4 Warmer temperatures, changes in rainfall, and more humid environments are some factors helping increase the survival rate of mosquitos.4-10

Before 1970, 9 countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics11

 

Today, dengue is present in 100+ countries11

Join the fight for prevention and make World Dengue Day a reality!

 

Prevention is key

 

Since dengue has no specific treatment8, prevention is crucial to help control the spread.12 It’s important that long-term efforts are put in place.13

 

These efforts could include:

  1. Integrating vector control and climate change adaptations in urban planning13
  2. Developing antiviral drugs and medicines13
  3. Educating and engaging communities to adopt ways to protect themselves and help destroy mosquito breeding sites13

 

 

  • Integrating dengue prevention and climate change adaptations in urban planning
  • Educating and engaging communities to adopt ways to protect themselves and destroy mosquito breeding sites
  • Developing technologies such as vaccines

 

 

How can I help protect myself from dengue?

  • Speak to a healthcare professional about ways to prevent dengue in your area

  • Wear loose clothes that cover as much of your body as possible14

  • Use mosquito nets and repellents14

  • Install window screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house14

  • Avoid or dispose of stagnant water around your home

 

  • Speak to a trusted doctor about ways to prevent dengue in your area
  • Wear loose clothes that cover your arms and legs
  • Use mosquito nets and repellents
  • Install window screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house

Visit ISNTD to find out more

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Explore the escalating threat of dengue as cases surge. Amidst the challenges, discover innovative strategies, including gene alterations in mosquitoes, Wolbachia bacteria, antiviral drugs, and vaccines, offering hope for measures against the disease in the future.
2 mins

References

  1. Colón-González FJ, et al. Lancet Planet Health. 2021;5(7):e404-e414.

  2. Centre for Disease Control. Areas with Risk of Dengue. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/areas-with-risk/index.html. Accessed March 2025.

  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/outbreaks/2024/index.html. Accessed March 2025.

  4. Tran BL, et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(4):1392.

  5. Choi Y, et al. BMC Public Health. 2016;16:241.

  6. Yuan HY, et al. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):4297.

  7. Do TT, et al. BMC Public Health. 2014;14:1078.

  8. Rodrigues H, et al. Seasonality effects on Dengue. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Computational and Mathematical Methods in Science and Engineering, CMMSE 2014 3–7July, 2014. Available at https://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/bitstream/1822/37059/1/seasonality_effects_dengue.pdf. Accessed March 2025.

  9. Polwiang S. BMC Infect Dis. 2020;20(1):208.

  10. Azil AH, et al. Trop Med Int Health. 2010;15(10):1190-7.

  11. World Health Organization (WHO). Available at: https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/dengue. Accessed March 2025.

  12. World Health Organization (WHO). Available at: https://www.who.int/about/accountability/results/who-results-report-2020-mtr/country-story/2022/community-engagement-for-sustainable-dengue-outbreak-prevention-and-control. Accessed March 2025

  13. Dengue: the threat to health now and in the future. The Lancet. 2024;404(10450):311-311.

  14. World Health Organization. Dengue and severe dengue. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue. Accessed March 2025.

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.

Analogue alarm clock with mosquito on the edge
Analogue alarm clock with mosquito on the edge
  1. World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue. Accessed February 2024.
  2. World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2023-DON498#. Accessed February 2024.

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Learn how dengue has impacted the lives of some patients and families

 

Watch & Listen

Mother and daughter sitting side by side looking concerned
Mother and daughter sitting side by side looking concerned

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Aedes aegypti mosquito

Test your knowledge of dengue!

Can bites from male or female dengue-carrying mosquitoes infect humans?

Male bites
Female bites

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.

 

  1. 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!

 

  1. 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.

Explore our resources to learn more about the risk of dengue and how you could help protect yourself and your loved ones

 

Resource centre

Father and daughter sitting side by side smiling while looking at mobile phone screen
Father and daughter sitting side by side smiling while looking at mobile phone screen

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