A new online dashboard will give researchers, governments, and the public a real-time picture of the global dengue situation for the first time. The Global Dengue Observatory, developed by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), draws together the latest data from 88 countries around the world to estimate the current number of dengue cases each month at both a national and a continental level.
The WHO estimates that approximately half of the world’s population is now at risk of dengue, with more than 14 million cases recorded in 2024. Dengue is spread by infected mosquitoes (mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) and while most infections are asymptomatic, severe cases can lead to hospitalization or death and regular outbreaks can overwhelm the health care system.
Because each country’s dengue reporting varies, data on cases may be anywhere from two to six months out of date. For the first time, the new online dashboard will plug this “data gap” to give a robust estimate of the current global dengue situation that can be compared to estimated cases in neighboring countries and the wider region.
So far in 2026, the Global Dengue Observatory estimates that 253,173 cases have been reported globally, below the five-year average for this time of year. In March, the dengue season is expected to begin to peak in several countries worldwide, notably Brazil and Argentina. Currently, the region is experiencing a below-five-year average start to the year.
The dashboard is intended to help policymakers and health professionals assess whether a country is experiencing a relatively mild or severe dengue season compared with its neighbors, and to determine whether additional control measures are needed. These may include spraying insecticides to reduce mosquito populations or organizing community clean-up programs to remove water-holding containers where mosquitoes lay their eggs. People living in, or traveling to, areas at risk of dengue can also use the dashboard to better understand their own risk and how to reduce it by, for example, consistently applying mosquito repellent or wearing long-sleeved clothing.
The dashboard will be updated each month so that it gives the best possible picture of the current impacts of dengue and how this is changing over time in response to factors such as environmental changes and public health interventions.
Professor Oliver Brady of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Director of the Global Dengue Observatory, said, “For the first time, governments and the public can see how serious dengue is in different parts of the world, allowing them to be better prepared and act faster to prevent outbreaks.
“From policymakers to travelers and all those living with the risk of dengue, we hope this new online dashboard will give them accessible, timely information on how to reduce the risk of this debilitating and potentially deadly disease.”
Tara Foley, CEO AXA UK&I, said, “We are proud to support this essential and ground-breaking project through the AXA Research Fund, now part of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, to prevent ill-health and act for human progress. It is critical that we raise awareness of dengue and this first-of-a-kind initiative to reduce the spread of the disease.
“Professor Brady and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s work will empower people, countries and organizations to be able to mitigate risk and help protect public and individual health.”
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