The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan (SPRP) to combat dengue and other Aedes-borne arboviral diseases, responding to their rapid spread amid climate change.

Dengue cases have surged alarmingly, with over 12.3 million cases reported in the first eight months of 2024, nearly double the 6.5 million cases recorded in all of 2023.

Currently, around four billion people are at risk of contracting dengue and other arboviruses, with projections suggesting this number could rise to five billion by 2050.

Contributing factors to the spread of dengue include urbanization, poor sanitation, and international travel, with the disease now endemic in over 130 countries.

In response to the escalating situation, WHO has classified the current global dengue outbreak as grade 3, the highest emergency level, to enhance surveillance and response efforts.

The SPRP includes enhanced disease surveillance, laboratory activities, vector control, and research for better treatments and vaccines, requiring $55 million in funding for implementation over the next year.

The SPRP consists of five key components: emergency coordination, collaborative surveillance, community protection, safe and scalable care, and access to countermeasures.

Dengue is caused by an arbovirus transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, whose habitat is expanding due to global warming.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the need for a coordinated response across sectors and borders to address the alarming trend of increasing dengue cases.

The plan aims to protect vulnerable populations and improve global health outcomes related to dengue and other arboviral diseases.

Tedros highlighted the importance of maintaining clean environments and timely medical care, stating that everyone has a role in the fight against dengue.

Dengue is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in South-East Asia, the Western Pacific, and the Americas, with increasing concerns in Africa due to multiple health crises.