Antiviral Strategies Against Dengue Virus: Viral Targets, Host Pathways, and Chinese Herbal Medicines

Dengue is caused by four antigenically distinct dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4) and remains a major global public health threat. It is endemic in more than 100 countries and territories, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 390 million DENV infections occur annually, with nearly half of the world’s population at risk of infection. Complex virus–host interactions and disease mechanisms continue to complicate antiviral development. No dengue-specific antiviral therapy has been approved. This review summarizes recent advances in anti-DENV therapeutics, including inhibitors targeting viral proteins, host factors, and virus–host interactions. In addition, it highlights the antiviral potential of Chinese herbal medicines and their bioactive compounds, and discusses priorities for their further development.