Dengue 2025 global surge: urgent call to bolster hospital preparedness for severe dengue

In 2025, dengue has reached alarming levels worldwide, with more than 3.6 million reported infections and close to 2000 deaths across nearly 100 countries. Hospitals, particularly in dengue-endemic regions, are struggling to cope with the rise in severe cases that require critical care. Intensive care units (ICUs) are overstretched, diagnostic delays are common, and shortages of trained staff are placing patients at greater risk. Adding to the crisis, climate change is driving the spread of <i>Aedes</i> mosquitoes, extending transmission seasons, and intensifying outbreaks. These challenges highlight the urgent need for stronger hospital preparedness, expanding ICU capacity, training health workers, streamlining triage, and linking real-time surveillance with clinical response. Without timely action, health systems risk being overwhelmed, leading to avoidable complications and deaths.