Breaking the Fever Global Strategies for Sustainable Dengue Recovery and Prevention

Abstract

Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral illness caused by the Dengue virus (DENV), has escalated into a formidable public health crisis across tropical and subtropical regions globally. The World Health Organization reports that dengue impacts approximately 390 million individuals each year, with 96 million experiencing clinical manifestations.¹ This alarming prevalence is exacerbated by the disease’s expanding geographical footprint, driven by factors such as urbanization, climate change, and globalization. In densely populated nations like Bangladesh, the surge in dengue cases underscores the vulnerability of regions with inadequate infrastructure and limited healthcare resources. The primary vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, thrive in urban environments, facilitating the rapid transmission of DENV. The economic and social ramifications are profound, encompassing substantial healthcare costs, loss of productivity, and heightened public anxiety during outbreaks. Moreover, the complexity of dengue’s four distinct serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4) poses significant challenges for vaccine development and long-term immunity strategies. As traditional vector control methods face diminishing efficacy due to insecticide resistance and environmental changes, there is an urgent imperative to adopt innovative, sustainable approaches.