Dengue
Developing urgently needed treatments for a rapidly spreading climate-sensitive disease
Dengue
Developing urgently needed treatments for a rapidly spreading climate-sensitive disease
We established the Dengue Alliance, a global partnership of leading public health institutes, to discover and develop new treatments effective against the disease. Together, we are actively searching for new treatments and have advanced promising candidates to clinical trials. Our teams and partners are also carrying out much-needed research on the under-reported burden of dengue in Africa.
Dengue is mostly spread by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Some people have no symptoms, but dengue can also cause fever, nausea, vomiting, rashes, fatigue, and intense eye, muscle, joint, and bone pain. For some, dengue infection can become severe, with complications such as bleeding and plasma leakage that can lead to shock, organ dysfunction, and death. Pregnant women, children, older adults, and people with comorbidities are most at risk.
Driven by climate change, rapid urbanization, and increased population mobility, dengue is the most widely distributed and rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. Despite promising innovation in vaccines and vector control, dengue incidence continues to rise across endemic regions, and new areas are increasingly threatened, exposing a major and persistent gap in patient care: the absence of approved, effective treatments that can stop dengue progression and prevent severe illness.
‘I thought I was going to die. When I opened the gate to get out, I fell down the stairs. I couldn’t stand. If there was a special medication for dengue, I would take it. What I’m feeling – I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, even my enemy.’
Mauricio lives in the community of Morro de Prazeres in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When he had dengue, he struggled to climb the stairs up the 275-meter-tall hill Morro dos Prazeres is built on.
Our short film ‘Treating a feverish planet: The Dengue Alliance’ takes us to Brazil, Sri Lanka, and Thailand to show the devastating impact dengue outbreaks are having across the world.
What we have achieved
We are bringing together partners in dengue-endemic countries to find urgently needed treatments for dengue.
What we’re doing for people with dengue
Together with our partners, we have started preclinical studies and will be starting clinical trials aiming to deliver an affordable and accessible treatment within five years. We are also working together on diagnostics and regulatory and access strategies, as well as jointly raising funds and mobilizing resources.
Dengue news & resources
Making medical history for neglected patients
We develop urgently needed treatments for neglected patients and ensure they’re affordable, available, and adapted to the communities who need them
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