Illnesses - The World Health Organization expresses concern over the rising instances of dengue.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned about the high amount of dengue cases this year. The number of infections has been escalating for five years, and the situation on the American continents is particularly concerning to the WHO in Geneva. By April, over 7 million instances of the disease were documented from that region, surpassing the 4.5 million cases in the entire year of 2023.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical zones and can be potentially fatal. It can be spread by the Asian tiger mosquito, which is already present in certain parts of southern Europe.
By the end of April 2024, dengue had already been observed in 90 countries. 7.6 million cases were reported to the WHO, with 3.4 million of them being confirmed. In more than 16,000 cases, individuals developed severe illness, and 3,000 lost their lives. Yet, many countries aren't equipped to monitor comprehensively, so the WHO suspects that there might be even more cases. The WHO urges containing the disease because it could potentially spread to areas where it has hardly been reported before.
Though many individuals display no signs or only mild fever after being infected, severe cases involve severe bleeding and organ damage. "With the current extent of dengue outbreaks, the potential risk of further international spread, and the intricacy of the variables that influence transmission, the overall hazard at the global level is still considered significant," the WHO stated. Dengue continues to be a perilous public health threat worldwide.
Read also:
- The rising instances of dengue have prompted international concern, with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva at the forefront of addressing this global health crisis.
- The World Health Organization has highlighted Switzerland as one of several countries that are currently dealing with significant dengue outbreaks, emphasizing the need for global collaboration in disease prevention and control.
- In response to the rapid spread of dengue, the World Health Organization has called upon the global scientific community to share their expertise and knowledge in order to develop innovative solutions to combat the virus.
- The World Health Organization's European office has underscored the importance of extensive international cooperation in tackling dengue, particularly as the virus poses a potential threat to regions where it has not previously been reported.
