New Delhi, India – Over the past two decades, the global incidence of dengue has increased ten-fold, rising from 500,000 reported cases in 2000 to 5.2 million in 2019. In the WHO South-East Asia Region, outbreaks are becoming more frequent, unpredictable and geographically widespread. Nine of the region's ten Member States are endemic for dengue, and a surge in 2023 was particularly acute, with Bangladesh recording a nearly five-fold increase in cases compared to the previous year, and Thailand seeing a rise of over 300%
Multiple drivers are accelerating this trend. The changing distribution of Aedes mosquito vectors, climate change, the co-circulation of all four dengue serotypes, and gaps in surveillance systems have together made dengue more difficult to predict, detect, and contain.
To address this growing burden, effective surveillance must go beyond case detection. Genomic surveillance has emerged as a critical tool for detecting emerging variants, understanding transmission dynamics, and informing vaccine and outbreak response strategies.
To support this shift, the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), in collaboration with CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), convened a five-day regional workshop on dengue genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis from 16 to 20 March 2026. Hosted at CSIR-IGIB, the training brought together laboratory experts and public health professionals from Timor-Leste, Nepal and Bhutan to strengthen capacity in genomic surveillance.
Designed as an intensive, hands-on programme, the workshop guided laboratory professionals and public health experts from Bhutan, Nepal, and Timor-Leste through the full genomic workflow, from sequencing viral samples to advanced bioinformatics and phylogenetic analysis. Moving from foundational concepts to real-world applications, participants explored how to track dengue virus lineages, identify transmission pathways, and interpret genomic data for public health decision-making.
“This training enabled us to see beyond numbers and trends, and to transform data into stories,” said Sangay Zangmo, Chief Laboratory Officer at Bhutan’s Royal Centre for Disease Control. “Through computation, we understand their evolution, allowing us to put the right public health intervention at the right time.”
The workshop emphasized three interconnected objectives: strengthening technical capacity for dengue genomic sequencing; standardizing approaches to bioinformatics analysis across countries; and translating genomic data into actionable public health intelligence that can inform response strategies at the national and regional levels. By working together on shared datasets and tools, participants strengthened not only their technical skills but also the foundations for a more connected regional surveillance network.
“Shared learning is key to strengthening proactive pandemic preparedness, where genomics forms the backbone of understanding viral evolution in dengue-endemic settings,” said Rajesh Pandey, Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-IGIB. "Genomics provides the foundation for understanding how dengue viruses circulate and evolve across South-East Asia — and that knowledge is essential for developing the tools and strategies we need to protect populations most at risk."
The workshop marks an important step toward a coordinated regional approach to genomic surveillance, aligned with WHO SEARO's broader efforts to strengthen laboratory systems and health security preparedness across Member States. It also reinforces the value of academic-institutional partnerships in translating scientific expertise into practical public health capacity.
As countries continue to face the growing burden of dengue, such collaborative initiatives are becoming increasingly important. By strengthening technical capacity and building regional partnerships, they support earlier detection of outbreaks, more targeted response strategies, and stronger health security.
"Dengue genomic surveillance is no longer a research frontier. It is a public health necessity," said Dhamari Naidoo, Public Health Laboratory Scientist, Health Emergencies Programme, WHO SEARO. "This workshop demonstrates what is possible when regional institutions work together. Countries that did not previously have this capacity are now equipped to contribute to the genomic intelligence that the entire region depends on."
Capacity built through the workshop directly addresses the surveillance gaps that WHO has identified as among the most critical obstacles to an effective regional response. Through such collaborative platforms, genomic data generated will contribute to a growing regional dataset that can inform and guide science-led interventions for the WHO South-East Asia Region.
The workshop contributes towards Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and aligns with the WHO Global Vector Control Response (2017–2030), the Global Arbovirus Initiative, the Decade of Action for Neglected Tropical Diseases (2021–2030), and the WHO South-East Asia Regional Roadmap for Diagnostic Preparedness, Integrated Laboratory Networking and Genomic Surveillance (2023–2027).