What’s really to blame for the rise in dengue? | Wellcome

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: https://wellcome.org/news/how-climate...

For an overview of dengue fever, and the latest health data, visit WHO:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sh...

NASA confirmed that 2023 was record-breakingly hot:
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nas...

For dengue infection rates across Latin America and the Caribbean in 2023:
https://reliefweb.int/report/bolivia-...

The Guardian published an article on Bangladesh’s deadliest year of dengue:
https://www.theguardian.com/global-de...

The BBC published an article on Peru’s health minister resigning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-lati...

For more information on Aedes aegypti and albopictus, visit ECDC and CDC:
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/disease...
https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/about/...

In the video, we talked about Aedes albopictus venturing further across Europe:
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-ev...
https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcen...

We also mentioned the rise in locally-transmitted cases across the continent:
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/all-top...
https://www.dw.com/en/dengue-is-comin...

Here’s more information on how climate change is affecting the spread of dengue:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/la...
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eb...

We pointed out some early warning systems for disease around the world:
https://wellcome.org/news/digital-too...
https://wellcome.org/news/digital-too...

For more information on DART, the project that Sophie is currently working on:
https://www.dartdengue.org/

Reuters published an article about Brazil’s recent surge in cases, compared to 2023: https://www.reuters.com/business/heal...

Modelling suggests that cutting emissions can reduce dengue transmission: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/la...

Thanks to The Protein Data Bank, RCSB for guiding our dengue virus illustration: https://www.rcsb.org/3d-view/6ZQU/1

And, thumbnail image credit belongs to Sgt. Andrew Lee / U.S. Air Force / Airman Magazine (colour edited): https://www.flickr.com/photos/airmanm...

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