Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease, is still an emerging public health threat across many parts of Africa. As outbreaks grow more frequent and severe, urgent action is needed to stop its spread.
What is Dengue and how does it affect humans?
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has become a growing health concern in Africa. It is caused by the dengue virus (DENV), which has four distinct strains (DENV-1 to DENV-4). Infection with one strain provides lifelong immunity to that type, but not to the others. However, a second infection with a different strain often increases the risk of severe dengue.
Humans are infected when bitten by infected female Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti. After an incubation period of 4–10 days, symptoms can begin abruptly and last up to a week. Most people recover, but severe cases require hospitalization and can be fatal without proper medical care.
Where does Dengue come from?
Dengue has historically been more common in Asia and Latin America, but over the past few decades, it has spread rapidly in Africa due to urbanization, population growth and climate change. The Aedes mosquito thrives in warm, humid environments and breeds in standing water, conditions increasingly found in African cities with poor waste and water management.
While Dengue may have existed in Africa for decades, it is now becoming more frequent and widespread, with confirmed outbreaks in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Sudan among others.
Dengue fever: symptoms, impact and public health challenges in Africa
Often overshadowed by diseases like malaria, Dengue is increasingly responsible for large outbreaks, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. Its symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, joint and muscle pain, skin rashes and, in some cases, life-threatening bleeding or organ damage. That one is known as severe Dengue or Dengue hemorrhagic fever.
For many african countries, public health systems are underprepared to deal with Dengue outbreaks. Misdiagnosis is common, as the symptoms resemble other tropical diseases. Limited laboratory capacity, lack of awareness and poor mosquito control infrastructure further complicate the response.
Why Dengue keeps spreading in Africa?
Several factors contribute to the continued spread of Dengue across the continent:
- Uncontrolled urban growth creates ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
- Inadequate sanitation and water storage promote mosquito proliferation.
- Weak surveillance systems mean outbreaks are detected too late.
- Limited vector control programs reduce the ability to contain mosquito populations.
- Global travel and trade facilitate the movement of both mosquitoes and the virus.
Additionally, climate change is expanding the geographical range of Aedes mosquitoes, increasing the risk of dengue in areas previously unaffected.
Mortality rates from Dengue in african countries
While mortality rates from dengue in Africa remain relatively low compared to other diseases, severe dengue can have a case fatality rate of up to 20% without proper treatment. However, with early detection and access to care, the mortality rate can be reduced to less than 1%. Underreporting and misdiagnosis likely mask the full impact of dengue-related deaths on the continent.
What needs to be done to improve the public health response?
To stop Dengue’s advance in Africa, urgent and coordinated action is needed:
- Improve surveillance systems to detect outbreaks early.
- Strengthen lab capacity to confirm dengue cases quickly.
- Launch public education campaigns about mosquito control and personal protection.
- Invest in mosquito control programs, including removing breeding sites and using insecticides.
- Support vaccine introduction where appropriate, especially in high-risk regions.
Improved surveillance, prevention and community education are urgently needed in order to prevent Dengue from becoming a major epidemic in Africa. The time to act is now, before outbreaks grow in scale and severity. Do you want to help us?
