Dengue is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It’s usually found in warm climates and isn’t as deadly as other mosquito-borne diseases like malaria. But half of the world is now at risk.
In this explainer video featuring Dr Felipe Colón-González and Dr Sophie Yacoub, we discuss how we can protect more people from dengue — as well as the big reasons behind the recent surge in cases.
Here’s a four-word hint: hottest year on record.
00:00 Dengue symptoms and infection rates
00:56 What’s behind the rise in dengue?
01:10 Aedes mosquitoes
02:27 Climate change and dengue
03:41 The spread of dengue across the world
04:48 Dengue prevention and control research
06:02 The future of dengue
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📚 SOURCES AND READING:
This video was adapted from an article we wrote in 2022: wellcome.org/news/how-climate-change-affects-vecto…
For an overview of dengue fever, and the latest health data, visit WHO:
www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-an…
NASA confirmed that 2023 was record-breakingly hot:
www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-analysis-confirms-2…
For dengue infection rates across Latin America and the Caribbean in 2023:
reliefweb.int/report/bolivia-plurinational-state/l…
The Guardian published an article on Bangladesh’s deadliest year of dengue:
www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/jan/18…
The BBC published an article on Peru’s health minister resigning: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-65930736
For more information on Aedes aegypti and albopictus, visit ECDC and CDC:
www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/disease-vectors/facts/mosqui…
www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/about/life-cycles/aedes.htm…
In the video, we talked about Aedes albopictus venturing further across Europe:
www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/increasing-risk-…
parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.…
We also mentioned the rise in locally-transmitted cases across the continent:
www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/all-topics-z/dengue/surveill…
www.dw.com/en/dengue-is-coming-to-europe/a-6754778…
Here’s more information on how climate change is affecting the spread of dengue:
www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542…
www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-…
We pointed out some early warning systems for disease around the world:
wellcome.org/news/digital-tools-climate-sensitive-…
wellcome.org/news/digital-tool-prevent-dengue-outb…
For more information on DART, the project that Sophie is currently working on:
www.dartdengue.org/
Reuters published an article about Brazil’s recent surge in cases, compared to 2023: www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceutical…
Modelling suggests that cutting emissions can reduce dengue transmission: www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542…
Thanks to The Protein Data Bank, RCSB for guiding our dengue virus illustration: www.rcsb.org/3d-view/6ZQU/1
And, thumbnail image credit belongs to Sgt. Andrew Lee / U.S. Air Force / Airman Magazine (colour edited): www.flickr.com/photos/airmanmagazine/27177612581/
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