The rapid spread of dengue fever is a major global health concern, and it was the focus of the 7th Asian Dengue Summit held in Malaysia on June 5. More than 500 doctors and medical staff from 20 countries and territories attended the event to discuss strategies for combating the disease and achieving zero deaths.
Experts at the conference emphasized the importance of understanding the global burden of dengue fever, which has increased tenfold from 2000 to 2019, reaching 5.2 million cases in 129 countries. By April 30, there were over 7.6 million cases recorded globally, with a significant rise in cases in the United States.
Factors contributing to the spread of dengue fever include changes in distribution and increased diversity of disease vectors like Aedes mosquitoes, as well as climate change and the El Nino phenomenon. With population growth and urbanization, the risk of dengue fever is predicted to increase, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to propose a “Zero death” strategy by 2030.
The conference focused on solutions for controlling mosquito populations, developing dengue vaccines, and new antiviral drugs. Experts also highlighted the challenges in vaccine development due to the virus’s complex antigenic evolution. WHO-approved vaccines like Dengvaxia and Qdenga are available in certain countries with a high dengue burden.
Early detection, clinical management, and community engagement were also crucial components of combating dengue fever discussed at the conference. Initiatives like the iDengue portal in Malaysia and Young ADVA program were highlighted as efforts to raise awareness and prevent the spread of disease. The conference aimed to share successful epidemiological strategies and innovative approaches to achieve its goal of “Zero death” from dengue fever.
In conclusion, experts at this year’s Asian Dengue Summit reiterated that addressing global burden of dengue fever is crucial for achieving zero deaths by 2030. They emphasized on solutions that control mosquitoes populations, develop vaccines for prevention rather than cure as well as community engagement through awareness campaigns such as iDengue portal in Malaysia.
