The world is facing an alarming resurgence of three child-killer diseases—dengue, cholera, and mpox—with the year 2024 marking one of the most severe episodes recorded globally. According to Reliefweb.com, citing the charitable organization Save the Children, the death toll has surpassed 13,600, triggering urgent calls for action to address the factors contributing to this health crisis.
Reportedly, dengue fever has reached unprecedented levels this year, with over 13.3 million cases documented—more than double the previous year's figure of 6.5 million. The burgeoning numbers are largely attributed to climate change and urbanization, creating ideal conditions for the disease-carrying mosquitoes. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns there are currently about 4 billion people at risk of dengue globally, and this number is expected to climb to 5 billion by 2050.
Cholera has also made headlines, with nearly 500,000 cases recorded by the end of the third quarter of 2024. Although this figure signifies a 16% decline compared to the previous year, the mortality rate saw a staggering increase of 126%, primarily due to outbreaks occurring in conflict-affected regions, where access to adequate healthcare is severely compromised.
Mpox, which has witnessed significant infections among the youth, was declared a public health emergency by both the WHO and the Africa Centre for Disease Control this past August. This surge, particularly evident within the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding nations, has raised alarm bells, especially as children have borne the brunt of new infections.
One poignant account from Lusaka, Zambia, highlights the severe impact cholera has on families. Beauty, 17, described the personal toll of the disease, stating, "Cholera, this current outbreak, has really impacted me and my family because my father had to stop work because of the outbreak, and my mother—she's a teacher—had to stop work for the same issue. It was challenging for us... It's important to have access to clean water because most of the diseases happen because people drink contaminated water.”
The rise of these child-killer diseases is closely interlinked with broader issues such as declining vaccination rates and the emergence of new pathogen variants, corroborated by findings from London-based disease modeling firm Airfinity. The analysis points to climate change as playing an instrumental role, prompting scientists to renew focus on the growing threat of preventable diseases related to environmental changes and the necessity for unified global initiatives.
Dr. Revati Phalkey, Global Health and Nutrition Director at Save the Children, voiced grave concerns over the current state of healthcare access: "Currently, about half of the world's population is not fully covered by health services—denying them their right to health. Health systems are under enormous pressure to deliver universal health coverage… It is time for governments and the international community to step up and protect children against disease.">
Children are particularly vulnerable to illnesses like dengue due to their weaker immune systems and tendencies to spend time outdoors, exposing them to mosquito bites. Such vulnerability is compounded during outbreaks, where parental illness or death can significantly impact child welfare, posing lasting socio-economic consequences.
The challenges do not stop here. Pneumonia continues to be the leading infectious cause of death among children under five years, accounting for around 500,000 fatalities annually. Surprisingly, new figures reveal deaths from pneumonia dropped sharply from 693,000 to 502,000 between 2019 and 2021, reflecting the consequences of stringent COVID-19 restrictions. Yet, experts caution the climate crisis could reverse these gains, leading to elevated incidences of respiratory diseases.
While cholera remains acutely detrimental to children, mpox has arisen as another life-threatening concern. Symptoms such as fever, rash, and lesions can result in severe complications, including respiratory distress and sepsis, particularly among young patients. Consequently, healthcare professionals stress the importance of global collaboration to fortify health infrastructure, ensuring access to emergency healthcare, vaccines, and medicines.
“Every child has the right to survive and thrive, and it is our collective responsibility to deliver on this,” Dr. Phalkey articulated, reinforcing the call to action. The situation calls for intelligent investments and strategies targeted at building resilient health systems worldwide.
With these headline-grabbing diseases on the rise, the global health community must rally. Immediate interventions and sustained attention are indispensable—this collective challenge demands bold, transformative actions to safeguard children now and for future generations.
