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Source: https://www.healthandme.com/health-...ns-across-india-says-expert-article-154332385
Dengue Is Spreading Beyond Monsoons And Into New Regions Across India, Says Expert
Rachel V Thomas
Updated May 16, 2026 | 08:00 PM IST
Climate change and rapid urbanization are changing mosquito habitats, and shifting dengue serotypes are reshaping the disease landscape in India. As a result, the country is now witnessing a transformation in how dengue spreads, who it affects, and how severe infections can become.
Once considered a seasonal monsoon illness, dengue is now increasingly becoming a year-round public health challenge, extending into hill states, semi-urban regions, and previously low-risk geographies.
In an exclusive interview with HealthandMe, Dr. Shikha Taneja Malik, Senior Scientific Affairs Manager, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), South Asia, discussed why India’s dengue numbers are likely being massively undercounted, how surveillance and diagnostic gaps are masking the real scale of the crisis, and why young adults are facing more severe infections due to changing serotypes.
Dr. Shikha also explained the urgent global push for affordable therapeutics and the challenges India still faces in developing an indigenous dengue vaccine despite its strong manufacturing capacity.
Here are the excerpts from the interview:...
Dengue Is Spreading Beyond Monsoons And Into New Regions Across India, Says Expert
Rachel V Thomas
Updated May 16, 2026 | 08:00 PM IST
Climate change and rapid urbanization are changing mosquito habitats, and shifting dengue serotypes are reshaping the disease landscape in India. As a result, the country is now witnessing a transformation in how dengue spreads, who it affects, and how severe infections can become.
Once considered a seasonal monsoon illness, dengue is now increasingly becoming a year-round public health challenge, extending into hill states, semi-urban regions, and previously low-risk geographies.
In an exclusive interview with HealthandMe, Dr. Shikha Taneja Malik, Senior Scientific Affairs Manager, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), South Asia, discussed why India’s dengue numbers are likely being massively undercounted, how surveillance and diagnostic gaps are masking the real scale of the crisis, and why young adults are facing more severe infections due to changing serotypes.
Dr. Shikha also explained the urgent global push for affordable therapeutics and the challenges India still faces in developing an indigenous dengue vaccine despite its strong manufacturing capacity.
Here are the excerpts from the interview:...