Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning on Friday about the escalating threat of dengue, a mosquito-borne disease that has spread to previously unaffected countries, infecting over 5 million people and causing more than 5,000 deaths this year.

According to Diana Rojas Alvarez, the health agency's team lead on arboviruses, nearly 80 percent of reported cases, approximately 4.1 million, have occurred in the Americas, followed by Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Alvarez attributed the spread of the disease, in part, to climate change, resulting in increased rainfall, humidity, and temperature, creating conducive conditions for mosquito proliferation.

While the WHO noted that about 4 billion people are at risk of dengue, many infected individuals are symptom-free and typically recover within one to two weeks. Severe cases of dengue can manifest as shock, severe bleeding, or significant organ impairment.

Given the absence of a specific treatment for dengue, the WHO emphasized the importance of early detection and access to medical care to reduce mortality rates associated with severe cases. The organization highlighted that reported cases surged to a record 5.2 million in 2019, marking a tenfold increase since 2000, across 129 countries.

Alvarez stressed that the dengue threat warrants "maximal attention and response from all levels" of the WHO to assist countries in controlling ongoing dengue outbreaks and preparing for the upcoming dengue season.