A new online dashboard will give researchers, governments, and the public a real-time picture of the global dengue situation for the first time
The Global Dengue Observatory, developed by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and supported by the AXA Research Fund, now part of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, draws together the latest data from 88 countries around the world to estimate the current number of dengue cases each month at both a national and a continental level.
View the dashboard at: https://globaldengueobservatory.org
The WHO estimates that approximately half of the world's population is now at risk of dengue, with over 14 million cases recorded in 2024. Dengue is spread by infected mosquitoes (mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) and while most infections are asymptomatic, severe cases can lead to hospitalisation or death and regular outbreaks can overwhelm the healthcare system.
Because each country's dengue reporting varies, data on cases may be anything from two to six months out of date. For the first time the new online dashboard will plug this 'data gap' to give a robust estimate of the current global dengue situation that can be compared to estimated cases in neighbouring countries and the wider region.
So far in 2026, the Global Dengue Observatory estimates that 253,173 cases have been reported globally, below the five-year average for this time of year. In March, the dengue season is expected to begin to peak in several countries worldwide, notably Brazil and Argentina. Currently, the region is experiencing a below-five-year average start to the year.
The dashboard is intended to help policy-makers and health professionals assess whether a country is experiencing a relatively mild or severe dengue season compared with its neighbours, and to determine whether additional control measures are needed. These may include spraying insecticides to reduce mosquito populations or organising community clean-up programmes to remove water-holding containers where mosquitoes lay their eggs. People living in, or travelling to, areas at risk of dengue can also use the dashboard to better understand their own risk and how to reduce it by, for example, consistently applying mosquito repellent or wearing long-sleeved clothing
The dashboard will be updated each month so that it gives the best possible picture of the current impacts of dengue and how this is changing over time in response to factors such as environmental changes and public health interventions.
Professor Oliver Brady of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Director of the Global Dengue Observatory, said: "For the first time, governments and the public can see how serious dengue is in different parts of the world, allowing them to be better prepared and act faster to prevent outbreaks.
"From policy-makers to travellers and all those living with the risk of dengue, we hope this new online dashboard will give them accessible, timely information on how to reduce the risk of this debilitating and potentially deadly disease."
Tara Foley, CEO AXA UK&I, said: "We are proud to support this essential and ground-breaking project through the AXA Research Fund, now part of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, to prevent ill-health and act for human progress. It is critical that we raise awareness of dengue and this first-of-a-kind initiative to reduce the spread of the disease.
"Professor Brady and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine's work will empower people, countries and organisations to be able to mitigate risk and help protect public and individual health."
