Tracking two decades of global dengue virus lineage dynamics

Global dengue virus lineages show regional differences in diversity, with five cosmopolitan lineages detected in at least seven of nine regions.

• Why it matters: Understanding the dynamics of DENV lineages is crucial for epidemiology and control efforts, especially as the virus continues to expand globally and is affected by disruptions like COVID-19.
• What they did: Researchers analyzed 37,828 DENV genomes sampled from 2000-2024 across nine regions using a standardized lineage nomenclature to classify and track lineage distributions over time.
• The result: The study revealed higher lineage richness in Southeast and East Asia, decreased lineage persistence during COVID-19 disruptions, and identified globally expansive lineages, supporting targeted genomic surveillance.