More than 2.2 million dengue cases and nearly 1,200 deaths were reported across 97 countries and territories in the first eight months of 2026, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In October, Bangladesh's reported total surpassed 103,000 cases and 300 deaths, while Cuba has recorded 11,235 cases so far in 2026. Florida is also experiencing the largest dengue outbreak in any US state in decades, with nearly 300 locally acquired cases reported this year.
One of the world's fastest-growing mosquito-borne viral diseases, dengue has expanded its geographic reach in recent decades. Climate crisis-linked rising temperatures and rapid urbanisation are among the factors contributing to its spread.
About half the world's population is now at risk, with an estimated 100–400 million infections occurring annually, according to WHO.
