The role of weather and cityenvironment in dengue outbreaks: what do we know so far?

Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV) and primarily transmitted byAedes aegypti, poses a growing global health and economic burden.The disease's spread has intensified due to rapid urbanization, globalization, inadequate vector control, and climate variability.The recent 2024 dengue epidemic in Latin America, exacerbated by El Niño-associated climatic changes, underscores the critical role of socio-economic and environmental factors in dengue transmission.This review examines the interplay between these determinants, highlighting urbanization, socio-economic vulnerabilities, and human mobility as key contributors.Poorly planned urbanization and low-income housing conditions increase mosquito breeding habitats, while human mobility drives the spread to peri-urban and rural areas.Climatic factors, including temperature, rainfall, and humidity, directly influence mosquito biology and virus propagation, with urban heat islands and seasonal monsoons amplifying transmission dynamics.The interaction between socio-economic and climatic factors further exacerbates risks, particularly in densely populated, low-income areas with inadequate sanitation and healthcare access.Effective interventions must integrate land-use planning and sustainable urban designs to reduce breeding sites, coupled with strategies to address socio-economic vulnerabilities and adapt to climate change