Dengue virus risks persist in winter as new rapid test development advances

Health experts are highlighting the persistent risk of dengue fever even during colder months. While lower temperatures reduce adult mosquito activity, Aedes aegypti eggs can remain viable for several months in containers like buckets, pots, and tires, hatching once favorable temperature and humidity conditions return.

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 5.6 billion people live in areas at risk of contracting dengue, with between 100 and 400 million infections occurring annually. Factors such as rising average temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increased travel are contributing to more frequent and extensive outbreaks.

In response to these public health challenges, researchers at CONICET’s Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Rosario are developing a rapid, low-cost diagnostic test. Led by researcher Elisa Bolatti and supported by the Williams Foundation, the project aims to use synthetic molecules called aptamers to detect the NS1 protein. This protein circulates in high concentrations during the early stages of infection, and a rapid test would allow for detection at primary care centers without the need for specialized laboratory infrastructure.