Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dengue fever remains the most significant vector-borne disease in Southeast Asia, imposing a substantial burden on public health systems. Global warming and increased international mobility may exacerbate the disease's prevalence. Furthermore, the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the epidemiological patterns of dengue. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate epidemiological changes in dengue incidence in Southeast Asia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, multicountry ecological study analyzing trends in dengue incidence in 7 Southeast Asian countries from January 2000 to December 2023. Data were extracted from official World Health Organization reports and national health department databases. Countries with data that were incomplete, inconsistent, or not publicly available were excluded from the final analysis. Annual incidence rates were analyzed, and linear trends were calculated to assess long-term patterns. RESULTS: Epidemiological data from 7 Southeast Asian countries, comprising Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Taiwan, were analyzed across the 24-year study period. A notable nadir in dengue cases was observed coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant increasing trends in dengue incidence were identified in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines (slopes: 8.243, 6.513, 8.737, and 8.172; R2 values: 0.14, 0.34, 0.345, and 0.46, respectively, all P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dengue fever continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Southeast Asia. Our analysis demonstrates a substantial increase in dengue cases in several countries over the study period. While a temporary decline was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a subsequent resurgence of cases highlights the persistent threat of dengue in the region. These findings underscore the critical need for sustained surveillance and innovative control strategies to mitigate the impact of dengue in Southeast Asia.