• Dengue is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases and a global health threat that has spread worldwide rapidly in recent years.

• A study published in the Science journal used the data of dengue incidences across the world from 1990-2019 and investigated the climate factors related to its causation.

• Researchers used an Empirical Dynamic Modelling technique (EDM), and convergent cross-mapping (CCM) to establish causality.

• The results of the study showed that the regional average anomalies in the surface temperature of the Indian Ocean (IOBW index) were moderately correlated with yearly dengue incidence in the Northern (r = 0.53) and Southern (r = 0.57) hemispheres.

• They established temporal association on causality using the CCM technique.

• Local temperature was found to be teleconnected with the IOBW index, hence, influencing dengue transmission patterns.

• The causality needs further confirmation using longitudinal studies, as it was deduced statistically.

• However, the IOBW index could not explain inter-country variability.

• Further research in the field is encouraged to incorporate other potential factors to frame dengue early warning systems.

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