129 Countries at Risk of Dengue and Chikungunya Outbreaks due to Climate Change, Warns WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about the increasing spread of dengue and other diseases caused by mosquito-borne arboviruses. The experts at WHO have highlighted that climate change is a key factor in facilitating the spread of vector mosquitoes that carry these diseases. Dengue, chikungunya, and zika are caused by arboviruses carried by Aedes aegypti mosquitos, which are spreading into new territories as the planet warms. Currently, 129 countries are at risk from dengue, including 100 countries where the disease is endemic. In recent years, case numbers have grown exponentially, jumping from around half a million in 2000 to some 5.2 million in 2019, the worst year on record. Chikungunya, which has been reported in 115 countries since it was discovered in the 1950s, is experiencing a dramatic surge in the Americas. So far this year, around 135,000 cases have been reported there, compared to 50,000 cases reported during the first half of 2022. The two diseases often cause mild symptoms like fever, body ache, and a rash. However, while most people who catch chikungunya experience symptoms for about a week, a full 40 percent will feel the effects for months and even years. Dengue comes in four closely related serotypes, and people who are reinfected with another serotype often develop severe disease that can lead to organ failure and death. WHO has called for urgent action to rein in the spread of mosquitoes and to boost mosquito control in countries to avoid any major outbreak.