The World Health Organisation, WHO, has raised alarm on the spike in dengue infections recorded in 2023 globally, which represents a potentially high public health threat.
The UN health agency raised the alarm on Friday as it reported more than five million dengue infections and 5,000 deaths from the disease globally in 2023.
Interfacing with newsmen at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Dr. Diana Rojas Alvarez, WHO Team Lead on Arboviruses, stated that the threat required maximal attention.
According to him, the threat also required response from all levels of the UN health agency to support countries in curtailing current dengue outbreaks and prepare for the upcoming dengue season.
Dengue is the most common viral infection transmitted to humans bitten by infected mosquitoes.
It is mostly found in urban areas within tropical and sub-tropical climates.
The increase in the number of reported cases of dengue in more countries is explained by the fact that infected mosquitoes now thrive in more countries because of global warming associated with rising emissions.
“Climate change has an impact on dengue transmission because it increases rainfall, humidity and temperature.
“These mosquitoes are very sensitive to temperature,” she said.
