The tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has become a major public health concern in Burkina Faso. These insects are responsible for spreading both dengue fever and chikungunya, leading to severe health complications. Authorities report that between January and October 2023, there were 50,478 suspected dengue cases, including 25,502 probable cases and 214 fatalities.

The situation worsened in mid-October, with 10,117 new suspected cases reported in just one week—4,377 of which were probable—along with 48 additional deaths. While the outbreak remains most severe in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, health officials warn that both dengue and chikungunya continue to spread. Since September, over 200 chikungunya cases have been recorded, as confirmed by Health Minister Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou.

Containment measures implemented

Rising temperatures and intense rainfall have created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding and virus transmission. To combat the crisis, authorities have taken several steps:

• Free rapid diagnostic testing in public health facilities
• Massive mosquito control campaigns using insecticides in the most affected urban areas

While dengue has been present in Burkina Faso since the 1960s, the country’s first major outbreak occurred in 2017, resulting in 13 deaths. The disease, transmitted by infected mosquito bites, shares symptoms with malaria and predominantly affects urban and semi-urban areas. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue infects between 100 to 400 million people annually worldwide.

Symptoms range from mild flu-like conditions to severe complications such as high fever, headaches, muscle pain, nausea, and in extreme cases, life-threatening hemorrhages. Early detection and prevention remain critical in controlling the spread of this disease.