Hanoi, Jan 8 (NationPress) The Ministry of Health in Vietnam has issued a warning regarding a complex dengue situation, indicating the potential for a prolonged outbreak, as reported by the Vietnam News Agency on Thursday.

In 2025, the nation documented over 181,000 cases of dengue fever, resulting in 36 fatalities, according to the ministry.

Nguyen Trong Khoa, the deputy director of the ministry's Department of Medical Service Administration, expressed concern that this outbreak may persist into 2026.

He urged localities not to become complacent, emphasizing the need for preparation in dengue prevention and control measures for the coming year.

Dengue, commonly known as break-bone fever, is a viral infection transmitted through mosquitoes. It is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions rather than temperate climates.

While many individuals infected with dengue experience no symptoms, those who do typically suffer from high fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, and rashes. Most recover within 1 to 2 weeks, but some may develop severe dengue requiring hospitalization.

In critical cases, dengue can lead to death.

The risk of contracting dengue can be reduced by avoiding mosquito bites, especially during daylight hours.

Currently, there is no specific treatment for dengue, and management focuses on alleviating pain.

Individuals infected for a second time face a higher risk of severe dengue. Symptoms of severe dengue often emerge after the fever subsides and can include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums or nose, and fatigue.

The global incidence of dengue has surged dramatically in recent decades, with the number of cases reported to the WHO escalating from 505,430 cases in 2000 to 14.6 million in 2024. The majority of cases are either asymptomatic or mild and self-managed, leading to under-reporting of actual numbers. The disease is now endemic in over 100 countries.

In 2024, a record number of dengue cases were reported within a 12-month period, impacting more than 100 countries across all continents. Ongoing transmission, combined with an unexpected spike in cases, resulted in over 14.6 million cases and more than 12,000 dengue-related deaths reported. The Region of the Americas accounted for a significant portion of this global burden, with over 13 million cases reported to WHO.

Several factors contribute to the increased risk of dengue transmission, including the changing distribution of the vectors (primarily Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus), particularly in regions that were previously free of dengue; climate change leading to rising temperatures, increased rainfall, and humidity; overburdened health systems; limited surveillance and reporting capabilities; and political and financial instability in countries facing humanitarian crises and significant population movements.