The most critical mosquito-borne disease in the world
More than 40 per cent of the world’s population is at risk of dengue infection. According to the World Health Organisation’s World Mosquito Program, each year, an estimated 390 million dengue infections occur around the world.
Of these, around 500,000 cases develop into severe dengue, or dengue haemorrhagic fever, a more severe form of the disease, which results in up to 25,000 deaths annually worldwide. That’s each year.
Fiji has started receiving reports of dengue fever cases. According to reports hundreds of Fijians have been noted to have dengue fever.
This is not a laughing matter. While the global pandemic COVID-19 is on people’s minds, dengue fever too needs to be dealt with seriously.
In recent decades, the global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically. Around 40 per cent of the world’s population is now at risk. According to the World Health Organization, dengue fever is the most critical mosquito-borne disease in the world – it’s also the most rapidly spreading. There has been a 30-fold increase in global incidence over the past 50 years.
Dengue fever can develop into dengue haemorrhagic fever, or severe dengue, which is a more acute form of the disease. Severe dengue can include symptoms such as bleeding under the skin and constant vomiting. It continues to be a dangerous threat to global health.
Dengue viruses can be grouped into four serotypes, all of which can cause disease. Prior infection with one dengue serotype is believed to make people more likely to develop severe dengue in later infections.
Prevention
Fiji and Fijians are very much at risk. But precaution is always better than cure. Preventing dengue fever is easy.
Keep your yards clean. Do not allow stagnant water to sit and be a breeding ground to mosquito larvae. Mosquito repellent creams and sprays are always handy and should be used as often as possible. However, the World Mosquito Program’s Wolbachia method is showing promising results internationally, helping to block the transmission of dengue, as well as other viruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, such as Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
Causes
According to the World Mosquito Program, dengue fever is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These mosquitoes bite during the day, usually just after sunrise and around sunset.
Symptoms typically last for two to seven days.
While the global pandemic COVID-19 is on people’s minds, dengue fever too needs to be dealt with seriously.