Chad’s dengue outbreak has officially expanded to five provinces, with more than 3,000 suspected cases, 250 confirmed cases and eight deaths reported as of 19 October. The Ministry of Public Health presented these figures at a press conference in N’Djamena, highlighting the rapid spread of the disease since its declaration on 3 October. The affected provinces now include Wadi-Fira, Ouaddaï, Sila, Batha and the capital, N’Djamena.
The outbreak is straining Chad’s already fragile health system. According to Dr. Dicia Fitouin, coordinator of the Centre for Public Health Emergency Operations, the majority of suspected cases—2,472—are in Wadi Fira province. The situation is further complicated by a concurrent seasonal surge in malaria, which shares similar early symptoms with dengue, such as fever, fatigue and headaches. This overlap has led many patients to self-medicate with anti-malarials, delaying hospital visits until severe complications arise.
Critical-care capacity is a major concern. Dr. Bargo, an emergency physician and secretary general of the Association for the Development of Private Health in Chad, noted that the country has fewer than 100 intensive-care beds. Many patients only reach hospitals at the stage of acute complications, such as organ failure due to dehydration, which poses a serious challenge in a system with limited critical-care resources.
Laboratories are also facing shortages of dengue test kits. Dr. Fitouin acknowledged that stocks are running low, which could further hinder timely diagnosis and surveillance. Health authorities are urging the public to seek care early, avoid anti-inflammatories, and eliminate stagnant water to reduce mosquito breeding, but emphasize that the population’s adherence to these measures is crucial for controlling the outbreak.