ADEN, Yemen, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday ramped up a large-scale dengue fever control campaign in Yemen's southern Aden and Lahj provinces, where a surge in infections since the start of 2025 has added pressure to an already severe humanitarian crisis.
More than 3,900 dengue cases and 14 deaths have been reported in the two provinces as of April, the WHO said in a statement via its Yemen office on Sunday. Both areas are under the control of the internationally recognized government.
The campaign aims to reduce dengue-related illness and deaths while limiting transmission, the WHO said in a post on social media platform X.
Key measures include larval source management to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, community health education, and targeted fogging operations in affected areas.
Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since 2014 when the Houthi militant group seized control of Sanaa and other northern regions, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 to restore the internationally recognized government.
The war, now in its second decade, has triggered what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Despite repeated mediation efforts, a lasting peace remains elusive. ■
