WHO warns of dengue risk as global warming pushes cases near historic highs

FILE PHOTO: A boy covers his face from smoke as a health worker fumigates against mosquitoes in a residential area, as Sri Lanka tries to curb dengue fever across the island in Colombo, Sri Lanka July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte/File Photo

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization warned on Friday that cases of dengue fever could reach close to record highs this year, partly due to global warming benefiting mosquitoes that spread it.

Dengue rates are rising globally, with reported cases since 2000 up eight-fold to 4.2 million in 2022, WHO said.