India is experiencing a significant shift in its dengue fever patterns, with cases now emerging year-round rather than being confined to the traditional monsoon season. By the end of February 2026, India had already recorded 6,927 dengue cases — surpassing the entire January–May total from 2021 — as rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and rapid urbanisation allow the Aedes mosquito to survive and breed for longer periods. Health experts warn that the trend, compounded by high levels of air pollution linked to greater disease severity, demands a fundamental overhaul of surveillance and public health responses that have historically focused on the rainy season alone.