Science in 5 Answers Dengue Outbreak Questions

With over 5 million dengue cases and more than 5,000 related deaths reported in 2023, most health officials have become very focused on the progress of this mosquito-transmitted disease.

Why are dengue fever outbreaks back in the news in 2024? Why are we seeing it in areas where it did not exist before? And what about treatment? What about vaccination?

Dr. Raman Velayudhan answered these questions posed by Vismita Gupta-Smith during a World Health Organization (WHO) Science in 5 interview (Episode #115) on March 27, 2024.

The full transcript is posted at this WHO link and is available on YouTube at this link.

The WHO says Dengue has become endemic in most countries of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

In the United States, Florida and Puerto Rico reported both locally acquired and travel-related dengue cases in 2024.

While there is a U.S. FDA-approved dengue vaccine, its availability depends on pre-admission testing.