Dengue in the South-East Asia

Dengue has emerged as the most widespread and rapidly increasing vector-borne disease in the world. Of the 3.5 billion people around the world living in dengue endemic countries and at risk of contracting dengue fever, 1.3 billion live in dengue endemic areas in 10 countries of the SEA Region.  All Member States in the Region except the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea being endemic to dengue, the Region contributes to more than half of the global burden of dengue. Five countries (India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand) are among the 30 most highly endemic countries in the world. In spite of the control efforts, there has been a significant increase in the number of dengue cases over the years, though improvement has been made in case management and reduction of CFR to below 0.5%.

From 2015 to 2019, dengue cases in SEA region increased by 46% (from 451,442 to 658,301) whereas deaths decreased by 2% (from 1,584 to 1,555). A variety of factors are responsible in SEAR for expansion and distribution of dengue mosquito vector and viruses viz. high rates of population growth, inadequate water supply and poor storage practices, sewer, and waste management systems, rise in global commerce and tourism, global warming, changes in public health policy, and the development of hyper-endemicity in urban areas etc.  The current situation of the high burden of dengue cases in the SEA region is coupled with the absence of effective treatment, and lack of comprehensive sustainable vector control.