There are more than five million cases of dengue worldwide. among them 5 thousand mortalsThis was announced today by the World Health Organization (WHO), which raised the risk of this disease to a high level, the radius of which is increasing due to factors such as climate change.

Global warming is expanding the range of mosquitoes that carry this viral infection, Diana Rojas, an expert on arboviruses from the WHO Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Prevention, recalled at a press conference.

As a result, half the world’s population, or about 4 billion people, are at risk of contracting dengue fever. The most common disease transmitted by mosquitoes.

“Most people do not develop symptoms, but those who do may suffer from high fever, headaches, body aches, nausea… in many cases they recover within one to two weeks, but sometimes the situation can get worse,” recalled the expert.

Roxas also recalled that 80 percent of cases in 2023 (4.1 million) registered in America The next hardest hit regions were South and East Asia.

The American country reporting the most cases this year was Brazil (2.9 million), followed by Peru (271,000) and Mexico (235,000), while Colombia had the most severe cases diagnosed (1,500, 1.35 percentage of cases). total), followed by Brazil (1,474, 0.05 percent).

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Roxas also warned that locally transmitted cases of dengue fever are beginning to be identified in the country. countries previously considered non-endemiceven in European countries such as Italy (82 positive cases in 2023), France (43) or Spain (3).

“These countries typically identify cases from travelers from the Americas, East Asia and other endemic regions, but some limited clusters of local transmission have been seen this year,” he warned.

He also expressed concern about outbreaks in countries in conflict and fragile environments. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia or Yemenas well as other disease infections, waves of internal displacement and poor health infrastructure.

The WHO risk decision aims to provide “maximum attention and response to help countries control current outbreaks and prepare them to respond to upcoming peak dengue seasons,” which typically coincide with warm, wet periods.

In this sense WHO calls on member countries to strengthen case monitoring mechanisms, environmental conditions and mosquito vector colonies, as well as updating action guidelines and improving training for health personnel to respond to the disease.

For the general population, WHO recommends the use of mosquito repellents, especially during the day, and the elimination of areas with high mosquito concentrations near residential areas of populated areas.

(EFE)