Dengue in Asia 2023
Southeast and South Asia
Malaysia
Through October 2023, Malaysia has reported a more than 100 percent rise in dengue cases in 2023, reporting 96,443 cumulative cases, a significant increase from the 48,109 cases reported in 2022 during the same period.
Dengue fatalities are also up this year—73 deaths from dengue-related complications were recorded by 22 October 2023, compared to 29 deaths during the same period in 2022.
According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), a surge in dengue fever cases is anticipated by year-end, based on the trend over the last decade. Typically, these surges peak every four to ve years, attributed to shifts in dominant serotypes in a specic area, with the last peak occurring in 2019 .
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has forecasted increased rainfall in the upcoming weeks due to the monsoon season. This uptick in rainfall might escalate dengue cases from December 2023 to March 2024, creating more breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
The Philippines
In the Philippines as of mid-October, a total of 155,823 dengue cases have been reported. The number of cases is 30% lower compared to the same period in 2022 (n=221,597).
From 1 January to 14 October 2023, there have been 543 deaths (CFR 0.38%) as compared to 788 deaths (CFR 0.36%; 31 decrease) reported in the same period in 2022.
Laos
The Centre of Information and Education for Health with the Laos Ministry of Health reports that as of November 15, 33,609 dengue fever cases have been reported since the beginning of the year.
This total is up from the approximately 28,000 cases reported during the same period in 2022.
There have now been 19 deaths reported in 2023.
Thailand
The Bureau of Epidemiology has reported 132,126 total dengue cases through mid-November 2023. This includes 142 dengue related fatalities.
This compares to the 48,679 cases and 32 deaths reported in all of 2022.
Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube
Taiwan
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated on November 14 that according to statistics, there were 1,358 new local cases of dengue fever from November 7 to November 13 this year .
This brings the total for 2023 to date to a total of 23,256 local cases, with 20,084 cases in Tainan City, 1,749 cases in Kaohsiung City and 671 cases in Yunlin County.
The CDC pointed out that the overall domestic epidemic situation is on a downward trend, but the epidemic situation is rising in some counties and cities.
There has been a total of 50 dengue deaths this year in Taiwan.
Singapore
The National Environment Agency (NEA) in Singapore, 8,591 dengue cases have been reported in the first 45 weeks of 2023.
Cases are down dramatically from last years numbers when some 30,000 cases were reported at this time.
Vietnam
Through the end of October 2023, Vietnam health officials have reported 127,907 cumulative dengue cases including 33 deaths (CFR :0.02%), which is a decrease by 55.3% compared to the same period in 2022 (286,361 cases including 136 deaths).
The number of dengue fever cases has decreased nationwide, while Hanoi has seen an upward trend due to complicated weather in the north with rain followed by prolonged heat, accelerating the development of the mosquito cycle.
Bangladesh
The record setting dengue season in Bangladesh continues as numbers are expected to top the 300,000 mark today.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reports 299,964 total dengue cases with about one third of the cases reported in Dhaka City and the remaining two thirds reported outside the city.
The death toll now resides at 1,543. Both the total cases and deaths in Bangladesh this year dwarfs the previous records of 101,000 and 281, respectively.
India
India’s National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control reports 94,198 total dengue cases through September 17, including 91 deaths.
This compares to the 233,251 cases and 303 deaths recorded in 2022.
Kerala and Karnataka states report the most cases with both states recording more than 9,000 cases to date.
Sri Lanka
The Government of Sri Lanka reports a total of 70,390 dengue cases, an increase 1532 cases from the previous week. In all of 2022, Sri Lanka reported 76,689 total dengue cases.