Dengue outbreaks threaten children across Asia as extreme weather spurs mosquitos – World

BANGKOK, 24 July 2023 – A spike in dengue fever outbreaks across Asia is putting children at risk with the situation set to get worse in the coming weeks as floods, heatwaves and potential impacts of the El Niño weather event create perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos, Save the Children warned.

Bangladesh is facing its worst dengue fever outbreak in five years and has seen a huge spike in hospitalisations, recording more than 22,000 cases and about 114 deaths, including 24 children so far this year. Thailand has recorded 36,000 cases from January to July – four times the cases reported at the same time last year.

Countries such as Malaysia and Cambodia are also seeing a surge in dengue cases and reporting much higher case numbers compared with 2022. Malaysia has reported about 54,100 cases so far this year, a 149% increase compared to last year, while…