World Dengue Day: 5.6 Billion People Still at Risk of Dengue

In commemoration of World Dengue Day, the Director of Postgraduate Studies at YARSI University, Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama, stated that an estimated 5.6 billion people worldwide are currently at risk of dengue. “This means more than half of the world’s population is indeed at risk of Dengue. It is also reported that Dengue has spread to 130 countries,” he said on Monday (15/6). He further noted that an estimated 100 to 400 million people globally are infected with the dengue virus each year. “Our mass media quoted data from the Ministry of Health stating that as of 14 April 2026, there were 30,465 cases of dengue infection in Indonesia. Of that number, 79 deaths were recorded, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 0.3% and an Incidence Rate (IR) of 10.6 per 100,000 population,” he said. Detailed data shows the cases comprised 10,138 dengue fever (DD), 19,877 dengue haemorrhagic fever (DBD), and 450 dengue shock syndrome (DSS) cases. The spread is extensive, reaching 401 regencies/cities across 29 provinces in the country, with deaths reported from 58 regencies/cities in 20 provinces. According to Prof. Tjandra, dengue prevention and control primarily rely on controlling the mosquito vectors that transmit the disease. For this, the WHO and the world already have the “Global Vector Control Response (2017–2030)” and the “Global Arbovirus Initiative”, which certainly need to be implemented in Indonesia. “Although vector control is the main approach, once cases occur, clinical management is necessary. For this, the WHO states that early detection and proper access to medical services are key to reducing severe illness and deaths from Dengue,” Prof. Tjandra asserted.