Dengue Virus

Dengue virus (DENV) has transitioned from a regional tropical infection to a persistent global health threat driven by rapid urbanization, climate variability, and expanding Aedes ranges. Current surveillance signals unprecedented transmission intensity, with World Health Organization (WHO) reporting record case counts in the Americas and sustained global uptrends in recent years. Clinically, dengue spans asymptomatic infection to severe disease with plasma leakage and shock, with secondary heterologous infections elevating risk via immunopathogenic mechanisms. Despite incremental progress targeted vaccination strategies and integrated vector management coverage remains limited, operational effectiveness is variable across settings, and neither approach alone interrupts transmission at scale. Policy and practice therefore require coordinated investments in (i) high-resolution surveillance linking epidemiology, entomology, and climate; (ii) risk-stratified vaccine deployment consistent with WHO guidance; and (iii) community-embedded vector control with rigorous monitoring of insecticide resistance. Economic evidence underscores substantial direct and indirect costs, reinforcing the value of preventive portfolios that combine vaccination where appropriate with sustained vector control. In summary, dengue control hinges on data-driven, context-specific strategies that integrate tools across the prevention-to-care continuum while preparing for increasingly frequent, climate-sensitive outbreaks.