Dengue season imposes double burden on Indian women

As monsoon fuels a surge in vector-borne diseases, nearly 300,000 dengue cases were reported in India last year, with malaria still entrenched in the poorest districts. Women bear the brunt of unpaid caregiving: they provide informal care in up to 83% of malaria cases and spend roughly four times more days than men nursing a sick family member. Almost 70% of community health workers are women, working at risk of contracting the diseases themselves, yet their labour is rarely acknowledged or paid.

Women also face heightened biological risk: dengue during pregnancy triples the risk of maternal mortality, and close to two-thirds of India's female agricultural workforce face greater mosquito exposure simply by going to work. Missing even a few workdays can devastate household income. Experts argue that vector-borne diseases are not gender-neutral, and that effective prevention must place gender equity at the centre of public health action.

The recent regulatory approval for India's first dengue vaccine is seen as a step toward closing the caregiving gap. Every prevented case also prevents a caregiving burden, a lost wage, or a school day missed by a daughter pulled in to help at home. Policy responses are urged to ensure the vaccine reaches women and children as a priority.