Covid restrictions helped curb dengue fever outbreaks

Restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus spread had an unintended — but positive — added effect around the developing world, helping to control dengue fever cases in Latin America and several Asian countries. The findings are contained within a new study published by The Lancet.

The study says there was a “consistent and prolonged” reduction in the number of infections, which amounted to 2.28 million in 2020 against over 4 million in 2019. Researchers say the figures prove a “strong association” between lower dengue fever figures and Covid-19 restrictions.

The study was conducted analyzing monthly data from 23 countries, based on reports by the World Health Organization, as well as population variables and climate information.

• #health
• #outbreak