National Guideline for Clinical Management of Dengue 2022

Overview

There has been an eight-fold rise in the number of dengue cases reported to WHO over the last two decades, from 505 430 cases in 2000 to over 2.4 million in 2010, and 5.2 million in 2019. Reported deaths between the year 2000 and 2015 increased from 960 to 4032, affecting mostly the younger age group. The total number of cases seemingly decreased during years 2020–2021, as well as for reported deaths. However, the data is not yet complete and COVID-19 pandemic might have further hampered case reporting in several countries.

The alarming increase in the number of cases is partly explained by a change in national practices to record and report dengue to the Ministries of Health, and to the WHO. However, it also represents national governments' recognition of the disease burden. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is placing immense pressure on health care and management systems worldwide, WHO has emphasized the importance of sustaining efforts to prevent, detect and treat vector-borne diseases such as dengue and other arboviral diseases. The combined impact of the COVID-19 and dengue epidemics could have devastating consequences on the populations at risk.

Data from Timor-Leste shows that the country has a huge burden of dengue. The emergence of all four types of dengue viruses (serotypes) represents a pandemic. Mortality from dengue can be reduced to zero by immediately implementing timely appropriate clinical management at various levels, including the primary health care. This National Guideline for Clinical Management of Dengue will strengthen the ability and preparedness to address the epidemic. I congratulate the Ministry of Health for initiating the formation of these national guidelines, as they will go a long way in managing dengue cases and reducing dengue related mortality.