Global dengue epidemic worsens with record 14 million cases and 9000 deaths reported in 2024

Haider, Najmul; Hasan, Mohammad Nayeem; Onyango, Joshua; Billah, Masum; Khan, Sakirul; Papakonstantinou, Danai; Paudyal, Priyamvada; Asaduzzaman, Md

Abstract

Dengue, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), is the fastest-growing mosquito-borne disease worldwide. We utilised monthly data on dengue cases and deaths reported through the World Health Organisation's (WHO) global surveillance system for the period of 1st January to 31st December 2024. We then performed a generalised linear regression model to understand country-level determinants of dengue-related mortality. In 2024, 14.1 million dengue cases were reported globally, surpassing the historic milestone of 7 million observed in 2023. This figure represents a twofold increase compared to 2023 and a 12-fold rise compared to 2014 (n=1,206,644). In 2024, 9,508 dengue-related deaths were recorded, resulting in a global case-fatality rate of 0.07%. In the regression analysis, countries in the Southern hemisphere (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 5.95, 95% CI: 4.19–8.46), and aged population (IRR 1.04, CI: 1.01-1.07), and mean annual temperature (IRR 1.21, CI: 1.16-1.26) were significantly associated with higher dengue-related mortality per million population. The ongoing dengue outbreak underscores the urgent need for global investment in DENV research, vaccine development, vector control, and therapeutic strategies. We urge the inclusion of DENV in the WHO’s Research and Development Priority Disease list to address this growing global health threat.

Citation

Haider, N., Hasan, M. N., Onyango, J., Billah, M., Khan, S., Papakonstantinou, D., Paudyal, P., & Asaduzzaman, M. (2025). Global dengue epidemic worsens with record 14 million cases and 9000 deaths reported in 2024. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2025(Sep 2025), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107940

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 25, 2025
• Online Publication Date: May 29, 2025
• Publication Date: May 29, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jun 2, 2025
• Journal: International Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Print ISSN: 1201-9712
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2025
• Issue: Sep 2025
• Article Number: 107940
• Pages: 1-5
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107940
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1274792
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S120197122500164X?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Global Dengue Epidemic Worsens with Record 14 Million Cases and 9,000 Deaths Reported in 2024; Journal Title: International Journal of Infectious Diseases; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107940; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.