Climate Change Fuels Dengue Surge, Indonesian Pediatricians Warn of Increased Risk to Children

Indonesia's Ikatan Dokter Anak Indonesia (IDAI), or the Indonesian Pediatrician Association, warns that climate change is fueling a significant increase in dengue fever cases, placing children at heightened risk. The organization highlights that rising global temperatures create more favorable conditions for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary vectors of the dengue virus.

Dr. dr Riyadi, a pediatrician and member of IDAI's task force on Environmental Health and Climate Change, explained that warmer climates allow mosquito populations to thrive and expand into previously unaffected higher-altitude regions. "The increase in the Earth's temperature will cause tropical regions to expand. Areas that were previously cold are now experiencing rising temperatures, hence the expanding coverage of dengue cases," Dr. Riyadi stated during a media discussion in Jakarta.

Official data from Indonesia's Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control reveals a concerning dengue situation. From January to October 28, 2025, the country recorded 131,393 dengue cases, resulting in 544 deaths, a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 0.41 percent. The disease has spread across 471 districts in 36 provinces, with fatalities reported in 196 districts.

Dr. Riyadi emphasized Indonesia's vulnerability as a tropical nation susceptible to vector-borne diseases like dengue. He noted that the ongoing global warming exacerbates this risk, potentially leading to continued surges in cases. "Indonesia, with its tropical climate, is vulnerable to vector-borne diseases such as malaria transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes and dengue fever caused by Aedes mosquitoes. So, as global temperatures continue to rise, cases can surge," he said.

As a long-term solution, IDAI advocates for robust climate change mitigation efforts to return global temperatures closer to their natural state, thereby shrinking tropical zones and reducing the prevalence of tropical diseases. Additionally, the association advises parents to consistently practice the 3M Plus method, draining, closing, and burying or recycling potential mosquito breeding sites, as part of the Mosquito Nest Eradication movement.