BAKU, September 9
The dengue virus, carried by Aedes mosquitoes, has reached Iran’s Bilasuvar region near the Azerbaijani border, according to the Iranian Ministry of Health. Authorities in Tehran report that the infection has spread across several provinces, with fatalities already registered. The risk is expected to rise further in autumn as rainfall boosts mosquito populations.
Azerbaijani infectious disease specialist Mardan Aliyev said the immediate risk of dengue spreading into Azerbaijan remains low.
“At present, Azerbaijan does not have mosquito species capable of transmitting the dengue virus. For them to appear and multiply, significant climate changes would be required — a process that could take several decades,” Aliyev explained.
He stressed that dengue is not airborne and cannot be transmitted person-to-person like coronavirus. Infection occurs only through the bite of specific Aedes mosquitoes.
“Flaviviruses such as dengue are spread by Aedes. In the past, Anopheles mosquitoes in Azerbaijan transmitted malaria, but this type has now almost disappeared. For dengue to spread, conditions such as swampy areas, high humidity, and a subtropical climate are required,” Aliyev said.
Dengue symptoms include high fever, weakness, muscle and bone pain, and severe headaches. In advanced cases, hemorrhages may develop in internal organs and under the skin, leading to its classification as a hemorrhagic disease.
Health experts stress that while Azerbaijan currently faces little direct risk, the outbreak across the border underscores the importance of long-term monitoring as climate conditions evolve.
Source: Bizim.Media
