A similar trend has been reported in Singapore, where 15,000 cases were reported in the first half of 2022 — three times the 5,258 discovered last year. Some experts have also suggested that climate change may play a role, as warmer temperatures are suitable for mosquitoes.
“Future increases in urbanization, climate change and growing trade are likely to increase dengue transmission,” said Dr. Brady, adding that the disease is now found in more than 120 countries around the world. According to the World Health Organization, cases have increased eightfold in the past two decades.
However, the means to contain the virus are limited. Dengvaxia is currently the only vaccine known to prevent dengue, but it can only be used if someone has previously tested positive for the virus. A number of other vaccine candidates are in development, but the virus is notoriously difficult to immunize.
“While early trials suggest that [the] As the efficacy of these vaccines improves, no vaccine is likely to be the miraculous solution to dengue and mosquito control will always be an important part of outbreak prevention,” said Dr. Brady.
However, he added that there have been some “exciting breakthroughs in mosquito control,” including infecting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes — the normal carriers of dengue — with bacteria called Wolbachia.
While Wolbachia is not harmful to mosquitoes, it competes with the dengue virus in its body and makes it harder for the virus to multiply and cause infection when the insect bites. Last year a groundbreaking but small three-year trial in Indonesia found cases of dengue were reduced by 77 percent.
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