Potential Establishment, Prevalence of Dengue Vector, Aedes sp. and its Risk Map in Hurghada Region, Red Sea, Egypt

Rising temperatures are predicted to expand the range of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, potentially leading to new areas vulnerable to dengue outbreaks. The recent arrival of Aedes aegypti in Upper Egypt underscores this emerging threat, with documented outbreaks in the Red Sea Governorate (2017) serving as evidence. To address this, a cross-sectional surveillance study was conducted during the summer of 2023 in Hurghada City, Egypt, to identify established dengue vectors and their breeding sites. The presence of Aedes aegypti was confirmed, and entomological indices were calculated to assess vector distribution. Risk maps were generated to evaluate potential risks across the city. The study confirms the establishment of Aedes aegypti in Hurghada and provides valuable data for assessing future vector distribution and potential dengue outbreaks. These findings contribute to understanding how global warming and socioeconomic factors influence dengue transmission and will aid in developing effective control measures to prevent future outbreaks in Hurghada.