New Delhi, Apr 23 (PTI) Experts, policymakers, scientists and global health organisations on Thursday called for urgent action to strengthen diagnostics to address gaps in dengue treatment. They warned that the absence of specific therapeutics continues to leave millions vulnerable as South Asia and South-East Asia brace for another monsoon-linked surge in infections.
The call was made during a day-long dialogue hosted here by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) in collaboration with the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), WHO South-East Asia Region and partners of the Dengue Alliance.
The convening assumes significance ahead of the monsoon season, which historically sees a rise in Aedes aegypti mosquito populations and dengue transmission across the region. India alone reported over 2.89 lakh dengue cases in 2023, though experts said the actual burden could be significantly higher due to underreporting and surveillance gaps.
“Dengue is unequivocally a national health priority for India, and our response has been deliberate, step-by-step, and increasingly comprehensive. Today, India is advancing on multiple fronts from strengthening public health systems to enabling public-private partnerships, including phase III trials of an indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine with over 10,000 participants, and regulatory progress on global vaccines,” Taruna Madan Gupta, Scientist G and Head, Development Research Division, ICMR, said.
However, a critical gap remains: The absence of an effective therapeutic for dengue, he said.
“Through collaborations with global and national partners, we are actively working to bridge this gap and remain committed to delivering impactful solutions in the near future,” Gupta said.
Dr G Karthikeyan, Executive Director, THSTI, said, “THSTI is proud to work closely with DNDi and our Dengue Alliance partners to bridge the gap in dengue diagnostics and therapeutics. Our focus remains steadfast: Leveraging high-level translational science to create accessible interventions that align with the global mandate for health equity and affordable care.” Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer in-charge, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office, said the WHO South-East Asia Region alone accounts for more than half of the global dengue burden, with 1.3 billion people living at risk across 10 endemic countries.
“And dengue carries costs beyond health system costs. These costs are often indirect: Lost productivity, lost wages and lost futures. And they fall hardest on the households least equipped to absorb them. This is both an economic crisis, and a social crisis. To change this trajectory, we must close the gap on diagnostics, on vaccines, on therapeutics, and on health system resilience,” she said.
Dr Nor Fariza Ngah, co-chair of the Dengue Alliance, stressed the need for an integrated approach to dengue care.
“For a climate-sensitive disease of this scale, it is essential that we approach it from all angles. While we do have vaccines and vector controls, addressing the treatment gap is crucial in ensuring care for the disease is accessible and effective,” Ngah said.
Dr Sanjay Sarin, Continental Lead Asia and Director South Asia, DNDi, said despite improvements in surveillance and scientific understanding, patients still lacked access to specific treatment options.
“Addressing this gap requires sustained commitment from governments, funders, and partners. The Dengue Alliance is accelerating this effort by bringing together stakeholders to advance research, align priorities, and support the development of safe, accessible and affordable treatments,” he said.
The gathering featured over 30 speakers across four panel discussions focusing on surveillance, vaccines, diagnostics, financing, community impact and health system resilience. Particular attention was given to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children and low-income communities, who experts said face disproportionate risks from severe dengue and inadequate access to treatment.
The meeting brought together representatives from governments, scientific institutions, regulatory agencies, multilateral organisations, industry, funders and civil society to discuss strengthening diagnostics, accelerating therapeutics and improving preparedness against dengue.
The Dengue Alliance is a consortium of institutions, including the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, Siriraj Hospital and Mahidol University of Thailand, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Brazil, and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil, among others. PTI PLB ASD ASD
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