WHO warns: infectious disease spreads in Europe, USA and Africa

This disease has long been a plague in much of Asia and Latin America, causing about 20,000 deaths annually. Since 2000, the global incidence of this disease has increased eightfold, primarily due to climate change, as well as increased human mobility and urbanization.

Many cases remain unregistered, but in 2022, 4.2 million cases were reported worldwide, and public health officials have warned that almost record levels of virus transmission are expected this year. Currently, Bangladesh is experiencing the worst epidemic in its history, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand people.

"We really need to prepare countries for how they will cope with the additional pressure that will come... in the future in many, many large cities," infectious disease specialist Jeremy Farrar, who joined the World Health Organization in May of this year, told Reuters.

In his opinion, the infection will most likely spread and become endemic in some parts of the United States, Europe, and Africa due to global warming. The rise in temperature makes more regions of the world "friendly" for disease-carrying mosquitoes. He warned that this will put serious pressure on hospital systems in many countries.

Dengue is transmitted by infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which behave differently than mosquitoes that transmit malaria. For instance, they bite people in enclosed spaces and bite throughout the day, not just at night. They also breed in very shallow water.

Most people with dengue do not have symptoms, which means that the number of cases is believed to be much higher than reported. In those who do have symptoms, they may experience fever, muscle aches, and joint pain so severe, it is referred to as "breakbone fever." In severe cases - less than 1 percent - it can be fatal.