Every year on May 16, India observes National Dengue Day. This day raises awareness about the growing threat of dengue fever, especially during the monsoon season. Usually, it is during the monsoon that due to stagnant water, mosquito breeding increases. The government also aims to highlight the importance of prevention, public participation for awareness, as well as timely medical care to control the spread of the disease.

National Dengue Day 2025 Theme:

Each year, a unique theme is observed in order to raise awareness. This year, the main theme is people-led prevention. The theme is : Act Early, Prevent Dengue: Clean Surroundings, Healthy Living.

Origin of National Dengue Day

The Ministry of Health designated May 16 as National Dengue Day in 2010. This was done to intervene when dengue cases increased throughout the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), "Dengue epidemics tend to have seasonal patterns, with transmission often peaking during and after rainy seasons. There are several factors contributing to this increase, and they include high mosquito population levels, susceptibility to circulating serotypes, favourable air temperatures, precipitation and humidity, all of which affect the reproduction and feeding patterns of mosquito populations, as well as the dengue virus incubation period. Lack of proactive control interventions and staff are some of the other challenges."

Dengue And India: Significance

Due to climate change, monsoon has arrived early, thus the Union Health Ministry has directed all air, sea, and land ports across the country to step up surveillance for vector-borne diseases. Authorities have been asked to strengthen preventive and control measures to curb the spread of infections such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever.

The advisory comes amid concerns over rising cases during the rainy season, a period that typically sees a surge in mosquito breeding and transmission. India continues to report a significant number of cases and deaths linked to vector-borne illnesses each year, making early intervention and preparedness critical.

Dengue and India: History

As per a 2012 study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, the official journal of the Indian Council of Medical Research, titled Dengue in India, notes that it was in 1780 when the first epidemic of clinical dengue-like illness was recorded in Madras (now Chennai). The first virologically proved epidemic of dengue fever occurred in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and the Eastern Coast of India in 1963-64.

However, during the last 50 years, notes the study, a large number of physicians have treated and described dengue diseases in India, but the scientific studies which address problems with regard to the disease may have been limited.

What is Dengue?

The study notes that Dengue is an acute viral infection with potential fatal complications. It was first referred to as "water poison" associated with flying insects in a Chinese medical encyclopedia in 992 from the Jin Dynasty.

The word "dengue" is derived from the Swahili phrase Ka-dinga pepo, which means "cramp-like seizure". The first clinically recognized dengue epidemics occurred simultaneously in Asia, Africa, and North America in the 1780s.

As per Global Medicine, the first clinical case report dates from 1789 of 1780 epidemic in Philadelphia is by Benjamin Rush, who coined the term “break bone fever” because of the symptoms of myalgia and arthralgia.

How Does Dengue Happen?

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dengue viruses usually spread to people through the bites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes. This mosquito bites a person infected with the dengue virus and then becomes infected. The infected mosquito then bites people and infects them with the dengue virus.

As much of the world moves into a new phase of pandemic-era life, COVID-19 itself continues to change, surprise, and endure. Over the past few weeks, Hong Kong and Singapore—two of Asia's most populous and globally connected cities—have seen a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases. The increase marks not only a local outbreak but a regional wave sweeping across Asia, reminding health authorities and global onlookers that the virus is an active and volatile force.

Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection has reported a significant increase in virus activity. Albert Au, director of the city's Communicable Disease Branch, said that the rate of respiratory samples that test positive for COVID-19 has reached a one-year high. Public health statistics indicated that severe cases, including deaths, have increased to 31 in the week through May 3—also a near-a-year high. Additionally, a troubling increase in COVID-related medical consultations, hospitalizations, and wastewater viral loads suggest widespread community transmission in the city of 7.4 million individuals.

On the other side of the South China Sea, Singapore is also confronted with the same situation. In its initial report of infection rates in almost a year, the health ministry of city-state reported a 28% rise in weekly cases to 14,200 for the week ending May 3. Hospitalization increased by about 30%, and that was the reason why the government issued an unusual public update, something it only usually does during serious outbreaks. In spite of the surge, Singapore's health officials insist there is no indication that the prevailing variants are more contagious or virulent than previous strains. Nevertheless, waning immunity and greater public mobility could be some of the factors.

What's The New COVID-19 Variant Spreading in 2025?

On a global level, the SARS-CoV-2 virus keeps mutating, and although the initial Omicron strain has vanished, its sublineages have taken over. Within the U.S., for example, LP.8.1 is the variant that today represents 70% of cases, followed by XFC (9%) and XEC (6%). Other Omicron descendant strains such as MC.1.10.1, LB.1.3.1, and LF.7 are also present.

It's worth noting that standard COVID-19 tests will not detect variants. Genomic sequencing alone can identify what particular strain caused a case of infection. These points of data are invaluable for surveillance by public health but are generally not shared at the individual level.

What makes this recent wave so significant is its timing. Historically, respiratory viruses have seasonality—spiking during colder seasons. But COVID-19 just won't follow that trend. The latest increase occurs as the Northern Hemisphere heads into summer, further solidifying COVID-19's transformation into an endemic virus with unpredictable seasonality. Health professionals warn that we can still expect waves of illness regardless of weather conditions.

Hong Kong and Singapore are not the only cities experiencing such a rebound. In mainland China, statistics from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the nation is well on its way to achieving COVID levels comparable to last summer's peak. The hospital patient positivity rate more than doubled over a five-week period through May 4, a measure of widespread transmission.

Thailand, another tourist and cultural destination, has witnessed increases as well. Two cluster outbreaks have been identified in 2025, with a significant surge after the traditional Songkran festival in April, which attracts record crowds and travel.

Guidelines for Global Travel and Public Health

Although the current wave is less lethal than previous stages of the pandemic, it is a stark reminder that COVID-19 is far from being finished. Global air travel hubs such as Hong Kong and Singapore are gateways to the region and the world. An increase in cases there might presage more spread in other nations, especially once travel picks up again for summer vacations.

Concert cancellations—such as those of Hong Kong pop star Eason Chan in Taiwan—indicate the virus's disruptive power still exists. While hospitalizations have yet to achieve crisis levels, the strain on health systems and the economy is genuine and escalating.

How to Stay Protected And Vigilant?

As infections increase in various regions of Asia, public health officials are cautioning against complacency. Populations are strongly encouraged to stay vigilant. Booster shots are particularly recommended for high-risk individuals. Fundamental protective practices do not change: have good hand hygiene, host events outdoors, wear masks where public places are crowded, and stay home when you are unwell.

In the U.S., emergency room visits due to COVID decreased 19.5% during the latest reporting week, test positivity remained at 2.9%—below the 5% benchmark for uncontrolled community spread. Yet because most use at-home tests or don't test at all, official tallies probably underestimate actual prevalence.

The current COVID-19 wave sweeping across Hong Kong, Singapore, and the rest of Asia reminds us of a grim reality: the virus remains with us, even though our lives have mostly moved on. Although vaccines, better treatments, and public health interventions continue to offer robust protection, the virus's ability to surprise is still there. The world must keep evolving and responding to new waves, variants, and challenges in an ever-changing pandemic environment.

As the world begins to reopen and the danger recedes from view, it's obvious that COVID-19 has not left the stage—it's just changed costume.

The Multnomah County Health Department (MCHD) on Thursday confirmed one case of tuberculosis at Portland's Lane Middle School. As per the Oregon Health Authority data, in 2024, 87 cases of tuberculosis were reported in Oregon, which meant it was spreading at the rate of 2.1 cases for ever 100,000 Oregon residents.

“Tuberculosis is a bacteria that spreads through close face-to-face contact with an infectious individual. It is curable with medication. Because the infection progresses slowly, it’s important to be treated to prevent serious illness,” the health department said in a statement.

The person who is reported to have tuberculosis may have been contagious between September 3, 2024 to May 1, 2025. The person may also have exposed others to TB, said the MCHD.

“This particular individual had symptoms that were kind of mild for a while and got worse. It was eventually diagnosed like a week ago, said Dr. Richard Bruno, Health Officer with the Multnomah County Health Department.

What Is Happening Now?

The Health Department's Communicable Disease Team is now looking to start for a contact investigation that will help them identify individuals who may have come to contact with the person infected. The exposed individuals have also been contacted by the Health Department via an email letter.

For now, the Health Department has also recommended Lane Middle School parents to be lookout for TB symptoms and report if any. The symptoms include:

• Persistent cough lasting 3+ weeks
• Chest pain
• Blood
• Phlegm
• Unexplained weight loss

The Health Department has also said that it will provide free blood tests to the school community in the coming weeks. Their efforts have made them optimistic that this will prevent a community spread.

What Is Tuberculosis?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or spit.

As per the 2017 study, titled The History of Tuberculosis: from the first historical records to the isolation of Koch's bacillus published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, TB happens due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT), which lasts throughout the life course and determines the formation of tubercles in different parts of the body. MT has ancient origins and have survived over 70,000 years. This also infects 2 billion people worldwide, with 10.4 million new cases each year. It is also responsible for 1.4 million deaths.

Common Symptoms Include:

• A cough that lasts more than three weeks
• Coughing up blood or phlegm
• Chest pain
• Fever
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness or fatigue
• Feeling generally unwell

Severe Symptoms may also include:

• Swollen glands
• Body aches and pains
• Swollen joints or ankles
• Tummy or pelvic pain
• Constipation
• Dark or cloudy urine
• Headache
• Being sick
• Feeling confused
• A stiff neck

Every year, May 16 is National Dengue Day, a public health initiative that aims to bring attention to one of the globe's most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral diseases. But as the limelight is once again back on dengue prevention and control, a new study is changing the conversation from the short-term risk of dengue to the insidious, long-term damage it can inflict on the future generation.

A recent study published has highlighted an underemphasized but very important issue of maternal health: the long-term effect of dengue fever in pregnancy on newborns. Although dengue fever is a well-documented mosquito-transmitted disease endemic to tropical and subtropical parts of the world, the novel evidence points toward its long-lasting effects on pregnancy outcomes and children's health till the age of three years.

As the world fights rising dengue epidemics fueled in part by climate change and urbanization—knowing how this virus impacts pregnant women and their unborn babies is more critical than ever.

Dengue fever infects almost half of the world's population. In 2023 alone, over three million cases were reported in the Americas, triggering alarms over its explosive growth. Notwithstanding its ubiquity, risks of dengue fever in pregnancy have not been given sufficient attentionuntil now.

Scientists from the UK's Universities of Birmingham and Surrey, employing a huge data set from Brazil's Minas Gerais state, have presented a strong argument for the long-term effect of the virus. The study, published in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, points out how even uncomplicated dengue infection in pregnancy has significantly affected the course of a child's life.

The research followed more than 300,000 mother-child pairs from 2011 to 2017. Researchers matched birth certificates, hospitalization rates, and reports of dengue infection to determine how maternal infection influenced early childhood health outcomes.

The study’s findings draw a sharp line between maternal dengue infection and significant early-life health risks for children. Researchers discovered that children born to mothers who contracted dengue during pregnancy faced a 27% higher risk of hospitalization from birth to age three. Alarmingly, this risk peaked in the second year of life, with a 76% increase in hospitalization during that period alone — a stage critical for early development. In addition to hospitalization risks, birth weight outcomes were notably affected. Babies born to infected mothers were 15% more likely to have low birth weight, with more severe outcomes indicating a 67% higher chance of very low birth weight and a staggering 133% increased risk of extremely low birth weight.

These outcomes are medically significant, as birth weight is a well-established predictor of both immediate neonatal health and long-term developmental and socioeconomic trajectories.

These staggering statistics highlight not only the immediate health consequences for newborns but also the possibility of long-term developmental and socio-economic issues.

Why Low Birth Weight Is A Sign Of Something Serious?

Low birth weight is a documented risk factor for many health complications throughout an individual's lifetime. Underweight babies are at higher risk of:

• Delayed physical and intellectual development
• Increased susceptibility to infections and chronic diseases
• Greater risk of metabolic disorders in adulthood

Dr. Livia Menezes, co-author of the University of Birmingham study, underscored this association, adding, "These birth outcomes can have longer-term impacts—for example, previous research has shown that low birth weight can negatively affect socio-economic outcomes and health in adulthood."

Dengue Transmission and Symptoms During Pregnancy

Dengue fever is due to the dengue virus and spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, predominantly Aedes aegypti. Pregnant women, particularly in the third trimester, are highly susceptible as they can vertically transmit the virus to their fetus.

The signs of dengue fever during pregnancy vary from mild to severe and can include:

• Fever
• Headache and orbital pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rash, particularly on palms and soles
• Muscle and joint ache
• Enlarged glands

Severe dengue (dengue hemorrhagic fever) may cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and death when left untreated. Warning signs of severe dengue are persistent vomiting, severe stomach pain, bleeding gums, and inability to breathe.

Historically limited to the tropics, dengue fever is increasingly spreading thanks to global warming. Increasing temperatures and urbanisation have enabled the Aedes mosquito to flourish in southern Europe and even US states.

As economist and co-author Dr. Martin Foureaux Koppensteiner of the University of Surrey describes, the consequences extend beyond personal health: "These adverse birth outcomes… have a much broader effect on communities where dengue is endemic. Hospitalization and long-term health problems caused by maternal infection all cost something—one that might be avoided or at least reduced with greater awareness and better policy."

Furthermore, healthcare systems need to plan for long-term pediatric care in children who were exposed to dengue in utero. These include monitoring for birth weights, developmental milestones, and providing access to early interventions when necessary.

These research findings present the global health community with a urgent wake-up call. Dengue fever is no mere seasonal plague—it is an interrupter of a child's life from an early age. With its spread and underemphasized consequences, especially among pregnant women, dengue needs to gain a greater space on the agenda of maternal health.