Dr. Duane Gubler, director at the Asia-Pacific Institute of Tropical Diseases in Hawaii says, "It's a global pandemic. It's quite clear that the disease...has evolved. There just is more dengue in the world."
All across Asia, governments are scrambling to contain the virus, which is only carried by the Aedes mosquito.
Singapore has already reported more than 11,000 cases this year, far more than the record-setting 9,459 set in 2004. Neighboring Malaysia, meanwhile, reports nearly 28,000 human infections - more than 25-percent compared to one year ago.
The Philippines and Thailand are also battling a rash of infections.
Dengue is sometimes called bone-breaker's disease because it causes severe joint pain. Other symptoms include high fever, nausea, and a rash. In the worst cases, it may cause internal bleeding. There is no known cure or vaccine.
Singapore relies on mass aerosol spraying, or fogging, to control mosquito numbers, a method researchers say is effective.
