Communicable E39: Dengue on the rise

Once confined to the tropics, dengue is spreading via its vector, the Aedes mosquito, to more temperate regions, causing increases in global morbidity, mortality and cost. In 2019, the WHO recognised dengue as one of the top ten global health threats alongside climate change and antimicrobial resistance [1]. In this episode of Communicable, Annie Joseph and Nav Narayanan welcome two dengue experts, André Siqueira of the non-profit Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative based in Geneva, Switzerland (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and Steven Lim of the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (Ipoh, Malaysia). Together, they discuss the epidemiology, clinical presentation and management of dengue including comparisons to other arboviral infections like zika and chikungunya, and the heightened risk of disease for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and those with comorbidities. The conversation also highlights innovative vector-control strategies and candidate therapeutics currently under investigation.

This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Loora Grünvald of the University of Tartu, Estonia.

Resources:

• Drug for Neglected Diseases (DNDi), https://dndi.org/
• Dengue Alliance, https://dndi.org/global-networks/dengue-alliance/
• Qdenga vaccine information: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/news/763/qdenga-dengue-vaccine-guidance
• Dengavaxia vaccine information: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/hcp/vaccine/index.html

References:

1. World Health Organization, Ten threats to global health in 2019.

Further reading:

• Treating a feverish planet: The Dengue Alliance, a video