Yemen records 30 dengue-related deaths in first half of 2026

Yemen has recorded more than 5,700 cases of dengue fever and 30 related deaths in government-controlled areas during the first half of 2026, Yemeni health authorities said on Wednesday, warning that the arrival of the rainy season could potentially accelerate the spread of the mosquito-borne disease. Taysir Al-Sami, a health official from the southwestern province of Taiz, said the southern port city of Aden recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 15 deaths, accounting for half of the total dengue-related deaths reported during the six-month period. He warned that dengue transmission could potentially increase during the rainy season, urging strengthened mosquito control efforts, enhanced disease surveillance, and faster diagnosis and treatment. Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since late 2014, when Houthi forces seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government. The protracted conflict has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, placing immense strain on the healthcare system and leaving millions in need of humanitarian assistance and basic services.