As of now in 2024, the Epidemiology Unit reports that there have been over 34,000 cases of dengue, resulting in 16 fatalities.34,053 cases had been reported so far this year as of August 11; the Colombo district had the highest number, 8,201.13,822 cases in the Western Province have been reported.
“An increase in dengue”
In the meantime, the World Health Organisation (WHO) notes that the incidence of dengue fever increased eight times between 2000 and 2019. At least 23 countries reported dengue outbreaks in 2023, out of the 80 countries that reported more than 5 million cases. Thus far in 2024, that figure has more than doubled, with over 10.6 million cases recorded in North and South America alone. According to WHO, the real figure is probably much higher, underscoring how urgently this public health emergency needs to be addressed.
“There are three main factors that are currently causing dengue to become a global health threat. Firstly, a warmer, rainier year means more mosquitoes everywhere, and those mosquitoes are difficult to eradicate. Dengue is also cyclical. In areas where there are mosquitoes and living conditions that make it more difficult to protect against bites, large outbreaks usually happen every few years. Thirdly, more people are travelling, particularly to areas where dengue fever is prevalent. The number of dengue cases worldwide has alarmingly increased due to these main causes.
Despite the fact that dengue fever is sometimes referred to as “break-bone fever” due to the excruciating body aches it can induce, the majority of dengue virus infections result in either no symptoms at all or a mild illness. In most cases, those who experience dengue symptoms get better in a week.
But dengue can also be extremely serious and even fatal, particularly in young children, the elderly, and those with underlying medical issues, according to the WHO.
