This disease is costing Asean billions

Photo: cdc.gov

DENGUE is no longer a seasonal nuisance – it has become a year-round public health crisis in Asean, with rising infection rates, unpredictable outbreaks, and worsening economic consequences. According to the Asean Bio-diaspora Virtual Centre and the World Health Organisation, more than 800,000 cases were reported in Asean countries in 2024, with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philip-pines, and Thailand recording some of the highest numbers.

But beyond the hospital wards, dengue is draining our economies. A 2021 study published in The Lancet estimated the economic burden of dengue in South-East Asia exceeds US$1bil (RM4.7bil) annually, factoring in healthcare costs, lost productivity, school absenteeism, and vector control efforts.