Previously submitted to: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (no longer under consideration since May 13, 2026)
Date Submitted: Aug 26, 2025
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Dengue Fever in Eastern and Southern Governorates of Yemen, January 2020 to May 2025
ABSTRACT
Background:
Dengue fever remains a persistent and evolving public health threat in Yemen, particularly in Eastern and Southern Governorates affected by conflict, displacement, and fragile health systems.
Objective:
to provide a comprehensive analysis of dengue fever trends from January 2020 to May 2025 in the Eastern and Southern Governorates of Yemen.
Methods:
A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted using routine surveillance data from the Ministry of Public Health and Population across 13 governorates. Aggregated data on dengue cases and deaths were analyzed temporally (weekly, monthly, annually), spatially by governorate, and demographically by age group. Data cleaning and statistical analysis were conducted using Python.
Results:
Over the 5.5-year period, 114,843 suspected dengue cases and 429 deaths were reported. The highest annual burden occurred in 2020 (32,225 cases), with notable fluctuations over subsequent years. Despite declining incidence in 2024, the first 22 weeks of 2025 witnessed a concerning rise in deaths (47), surpassing previous mid-year totals. Geographically, Taizz (39% of cases) and Aden (highest mortality) were identified as hotspots. Young adults (15–34 years) constituted over half of all cases. Seasonal trends indicated consistent peaks in autumn, especially October and June.
Conclusions:
Dengue remains endemic in Yemen’s Eastern and Southern Governorates, with shifting epidemiological dynamics and rising lethality in 2025. High case burdens in urbanized, conflict-affected regions underscore the need for targeted interventions. Strengthening early warning systems, clinical management, and vector control—particularly in high-risk areas like Aden and Taizz—is essential.
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