As border restrictions have been lifted and environmental and social determinants, such as climate change, have significantly changed in the post-COVID-19 era, dengue activity peaked in 2024. That year, the number of dengue cases reached a record high, with a cumulative total of over 14 million reported infections and more than 10,000 related deaths worldwide. Dengue fever has emerged as a critical public health concern across all regions.The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) is hosting an APEC-funded conference titled "Dengue Prevention and Control in the Post-COVID-19 Era: New Challenges and Role of Innovative Technology" on April 22 and 23. Dengue experts from around the world have been invited to share their experiences in dengue prevention and insights into the application of innovative technologies to strengthen regional dengue prevention and control as well as establish networks among Taiwan and APEC economies.
 
Invited guests and participants include Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Jih-Haw Chou, Tainan City Mayor Wei-Che Huang, Taiwan CDC Director-General Jen-Hsiang Chuang, Tainan City Government Deputy Secretary-General and Dengue Fever Prevention and Control Center Director Tian-Hou You, Tainan City Government Public Health Bureau Director-General Tsuey-Feng Li, National Health Research Institutes of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology Director Yee-Chun Chen, National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center Chief Consultant Chin-Seng Chen, along with experts and representatives from industry, government, and academia from Taiwan, the United States, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, and Vietnam. Key discussion topics include national policies for dengue preparedness and response, vector surveillance and control, dengue vaccine development, and innovative technology development in vector surveillance and control.

Taiwan CDC has also collaborated with the Tainan City Government to organize a field visit to Nan-Mei Village and the surrounding areas on the afternoon of April 23. This visit will demonstrate how the Tainan City Government eliminates mosquito breeding sites and improves environmental management through community mobilization and practical dengue prevention measures.

Taiwan CDC emphasized that, in light of the escalating health challenges posed by dengue fever and climate change, this conference seeks to strengthen the capacity of APEC economies to respond to the challenges of dengue prevention and public health as well as healthcare systems impacted by climate change. It is hoped that this conference can establish channels for cooperation and continue international collaboration, thereby contributing to strengthened global health security.