ASEAN Biological Threats Surveillance Centre : Dengue in The ASEAN Region Focus Report 2025

Dengue has emerged as the most prevalent and rapidly expanding vectorborne disease worldwide. Of the 3.5 billion people around the world living in dengue endemic countries and at risk of contracting dengue fever, 1.3 billion live in dengue endemic areas in 10 countries of the SEA Region. Five countries in the SEA Region including India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand are among the 30 most highly endemic countries in the world (WHO, n.d). Between 2015 and 2019, the number of dengue cases in the SEA Region rose by 46%, while the number of deaths associated with the disease declined by 2%. Several factors have contributed to the expansion and distribution of dengue vectors and viruses in the region, including rapid population growth, inadequate water supply and storage practices, deficiencies in sewerage and waste management systems, increased global trade and tourism, climate change, shifts in public health policies, and the emergence of hyper-endemic conditions in urban environments. The current high burden of dengue in the SEA Region persists alongside the absence of effective therapeutic options and the lack of a comprehensive, sustainable vector control strategy (WHO, n.d). Countries around the world, including AMS, have initiated a regional advocacy effort to combat dengue. ASEAN Dengue Day, observed annually on June 15, was officially endorsed during the 10th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting in 2010 as a demonstration of the collective commitment to addressing the threat of dengue. This initiative highlights the importance of recognizing both the risks and opportunities related to dengue prevention and control, and encourages collaborative efforts toward the development of proactive and sustainable solutions (ASEAN, 2024).