Dengue vaccine: considerations before rollout in Colombia.

Dengue has become an increasing public health concern in tropical and subtropical countries with worsening societal and financial burdens. Dengue causes considerable suffering and loss of productivity despite the typical, relatively short, weeklong duration of illness. Furthermore, people keep dying from dengue in the absence of early clinical recognition of severe infection and adequate supportive care. The World Health Organization estimates that 50–100 million dengue infections occur annually. However, estimates based on cartographic modelling approaches suggest that up to 390 million dengue infections occur annually (95% CI 284–528). The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported in the region of the Americas a total of 1,181 deaths in 2015. Dengue costs are substantial because of the cost of hospital care and the loss in earnings by incapacitation or premature death. Estimates are probably conservative because most studies do not include budgets directed to vector control, loss in tourism, and other costs.