The killer this time is dengue!

While we have been obsessing for the last 17 months with masks and social distancing, and keeping a close watch on the front door to keep Covid-19 away, dengue has recently sneaked into our homes through the windows and caught us with our pants down!

Dengue is yet another viral infection, in a way like SARSCov2, but it enters the body in a different way and targets different organs. Both however have mild as well as serious forms, and kill around 1-2% of those they infect.

Dengue virus, now designated officially as DENV, are of 4 types, (quite like the delta and alpha of SARS-COV2) and vary in their epidemiology and seriousness. Unlike COVID which spreads from an infected person fairly directly through droplets in the breath, dengue requires another agent, a mosquito, to transmit.

The focus of attention for preventing dengue is therefore in controlling mosquitoes, called vector (another name for transmitter), which breed in stagnant water pools left by monsoons. Female members of the striped Aedes Aegypti, the main culprit strain, then visit our homes for a drink of human blood required for their further breeding, during which they transmit the virus.

Dengue usually presents with fever, at times high grade and back-breaking that may last 4 to 7 days. Symptoms suggesting a serious turn are severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, restlessness, bleeding gums and low blood pressure, and require hospitalization for supportive care. Two major complications to watch out for are bleeding (from any site such as gums, intestine, under the skin, into lungs) due to low platelets in the blood, and shock (low BP, fall in urine out-put) that may kill.

If the war against dengue has to be won, understanding the behavior of the Aedes mosquito is essential: it is a daytime biter, coming in mornings or at dusk. It is therefore essential to replace half-sleeved shirts and shorts with full-sleeved ones, pajamas or trousers. Socks are helpful to cover potential biting sites, as are mosquito repellents on the exposed portions of skin or the room.

And of-course, cleaning stagnant water pools in the neighborhood of homes and schools are essential. A bunch of young volunteers can often lead the fight against mosquitoes which paid professionals often fail to achieve!

Under-estimating the reach and might of the AedesDengue combo can prove

Aedes Aegypti and (right) Film director Yash Chopra lost his life due to dengue

costly. It had claimed the life of our Bollywood legend

Yash Chopra, a few years ago.

And by the way, vaccines do not work well for every infection, dengue being an example although there are 2 approved. It is mosquitoes then which need targeting this time!

CGo to the office with the resolve of clearing your desk of all pending work. Luck will shine on those who are looking for a suitable accommodation.

LOVE FOCUS: If you are in two minds regarding an affair, choose what your heart tells you to do.

LUCKY NUMBER: 22 LUCKY COLOUR: Light Green