ADEN, Yemen, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Yemen recorded more than 5,700 dengue fever cases and 30 related deaths in government-controlled areas during the first half of 2026, health authorities said Wednesday, warning the onset of the rainy season could accelerate the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.
Taysir Al-Sami, a health official of the southwestern province of Taiz, said the southern port city of Aden accounted for the highest death toll with 15 fatalities, representing half of all dengue-related deaths logged in the six-month period.
He warned that dengue transmission is likely to increase during the rainy season, urging intensified mosquito-control campaigns, stronger disease surveillance, and faster diagnosis and treatment.
Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when Houthi forces took control of the capital, Sanaa, and large parts of northern Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in support of the internationally recognized government in 2015.
The prolonged conflict has triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, severely straining the healthcare system and leaving millions in need of humanitarian assistance and basic services.
