The Aedes mosquito, with the scientific name Aedes aegypti or Stegomyia aegypti is the main infectious carrier, or vector, of the dengue fever virus and can also carry other viruses such as the similarly infamous yellow fever virus. (photo: library.thinkquest.org)

(Scroll down for world distribution map and news reports)

Dengue virus presents a growing threat to public health in the developing world. Four major serotypes of dengue virus have been characterized, and epidemiological evidence shows that dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), the more serious manifestation of the disease, occurs more frequently upon reinfection with a second serotype.

Primary infection may be asymptomatic or may result in dengue fever. This is generally a self-limiting febrile illness which occurs after a 4-8 day incubation period. It has symptoms such as fever, aches and arthralgia (pain in the joints) which can progress to arthritis (inflammation of the joints), myositis (inflammation of muscle tissue) and a discrete macular or maculopapular rash. In this situation clinical differentiation from other viral illnesses may not be possible, recovery is rapid, and need for supportive treatment is minimal. (NCBI)

Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication. The incubation period is unknown but is likely to be similar to that of dengue fever. Dengue hemorrhagic fever commences with high fever and many of the symptoms of dengue fever, but with extreme lethargy and drowsiness. The patient has increased vascular permeability and abnormal homeostasis (homeostasis is the maintenance of equilibrium, or constant conditions, in a biological system) that can lead to hypovolemia (abnormal decrease in blood volume) and hypotension (drop in blood pressure), and in severe cases, result in hypovolemic shock (Shock due to a decrease in blood volume) often complicated by severe internal bleeding.

Dengue shock syndrome (DSS) results from leakage of plasma into the extravascular compartment. Rapid and poor volume pulse, hypotension, cold extremities, and restlessness occur. In addition to the plasma leakage, which is the result of generalized vasculitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation is present. Dengue shock syndrome is usually a progression of dengue haemorrhagic fever and is often fatal. (NCBI)

Dengue virus infection is the most common arthropod-borne disease worldwide with an increasing incidence in the tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. There are four serotypes of the virus. All are transmitted by mosquitoes, which are not affected by the disease, although an infected mosquito may infect others (not via man).  (map: microbiologybytes.com)

Cuba, Belgium seek to control dengue by community participation
August 11, 2007 

Cuba and Belgium announced Friday that they are to launch throughout the island a joint experiment to control dengue fever using community participation and if successful the initiative may be adapted and expanded to other countries.

Health professionals said difficulties in dengue control were the result of a lack of participation of the community and limited knowledge of prevention methods.

The initiative is part of cooperation between Cuba and Belgium.

The dengue-control trial project in Cuba "is at top world level because what is done here is in good quality, is successful, and good results are obtained," Patrick van der Stuyft, a researcher from Belgium's Tropical Medicine Institute, said.

Van der Stuyft, who was attending an international dengue event in Havana, added that Cuba has carried out continuous dengue studies in the past five years.

Cuban and Belgian specialists have collaborated in other investigations of dengue fever for 10 years, as a way to communicate, modernize and improve operations to fight the disease.

Dengue is caused by a virus transmitted to human beings by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and is characterized by high fever, rashes, headaches, and severe muscle and joint pain.

Source: Xinhua
 
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/6237284.html

Dengue claims two more lives in western Philippines
July 27, 2007
 
Dengue claimed at least two more lives in Palawan province, the western Philippines, local media reported on Friday.

The two victims, a seven-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man who succumbed to the disease on Thursday, were among the 71 cases recorded in Palawan so far this year, said a report by local Radio dzBB.

The report said at least 20 patients were brought to the hospital in Puerto Princesa City Thursday alone.

At least 11 more patients are confined in hospitals in other areas in the province, the report said.

Despite the deaths, the provincial government has not yet declared a dengue outbreak or advisory.

Health authorities have intensified anti-dengue measures by promoting cleanliness in surroundings to prevent dengue-carrying mosquitoes from breeding.

Source: Xinhua
 
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/6225855.html

WHO warns of worsening dengue spread in Western Pacific
July 23, 2007 
 
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday warned that the Western Pacific Region may be heading for a major dengue outbreak unless concerted effort and cooperation are undertaken quickly.

The disease, which arrived earlier than usual in this year, has already caused hundreds of deaths in the region, the WHO's Regional Office for the Western Pacific said in a statement.

Stronger political commitment and greater spending from Member States are needed to support dengue prevention and control program, so as to improve dengue surveillance and the management of patients, the statement said.

For the past decade, ten countries and areas, namely Cambodia, China, French Polynesia, Fiji, Malaysia, Laos, New Caledonia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, accounted for 98.4 percent of all dengue cases and 99.7 percent of all deaths in the Western Pacific Region, it added.

The statement, however, said that current official information from most WHO members is incomplete, making it difficult to get an accurate estimate of the magnitude of the problem in the Western Pacific Region. It urged countries to provide dengue information to the WHO.

Since there is no vaccine to prevent dengue nor are there any effective antiviral drugs to treat the disease, the WHO has called for an integrated approach among its members to dengue fever prevention and control.

Dengue is presently endemic in at least 100 countries throughout the world. Over 50 million dengue infections, including about 400,000 cases of dengue fever, are reported annually, according to the WHO.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a leading cause of childhood death in many endemic countries, the WHO said.

Source: Xinhua 

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/6222096.html

Dengue fever claims 57 lives in Malaysia
 July 12, 2007 
 
The outbreak of dengue fever has claimed 57 lives so far in Malaysia, local media reported on Thursday.

The Health Ministry has spent more than 10 million ringgit (2. 94 million U.S. dollars) since 2004 on dengue fever preventive and control measures, The Star newspaper reported.

Most of the money was spent on chemicals including pesticides and larvicides, fogging machines, personal protection apparatus, educational tools and on conducting training programs, said Auk Lee Kah Choon, parliamentary secretary of the Health Ministry.

"The ministry is aware of the increase in dengue fever as a result of floods," he said on Wednesday.

However, Lee said the increase in dengue cases in the capital occurred even before the June 10 flash floods.

"The dengue fever situation is still under control and the ministry will continue to take steps to weed out the problem," he said.

Source: Xinhua 
 
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/6213981.html

Major hospitals in Cambodia 's hottest travel destination Siem Reap province have received more dengue patients than before, according to local newspaper report on Thursday.

The rise of number of patients showed that the spread of the disease was becoming stronger there, Chinese-language daily newspaper the Commercial News quoted the figures from Ministry of Health as saying.

Meanwhile, the spread of the epidemic turned weaker in Phnom Penh, Kandal, Takeo and Kampot, while no basic change was seen in the rest provinces, the figures said.

The ministry has dispatched more experts to Siem Reap to help the local government contain the disease, the paper added.

Earlier statistics from the ministry said that the death toll from dengue fever for the first half of this year already surpassed the total number of 2006, for more mosquitoes were born at household level.

Altogether 182 people died from the virus in the first six months of this year, compared to the 158 death in the whole year of 2006, while the reported cases of human contamination of the fever so far this year reached 14,986, over 16,649 in the whole year of 2006.

The peak of dengue spread used to occur at the end of July. Currently, the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office is leading the efforts of Cambodia to spray insecticide and train provincial teams in this regard.

Source: Xinhua 
 
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/6213980.html

Malaysia to issue booklets to foreign workers against dengue menace
July 12, 2007 

The Malaysian government will distribute brochures soon in different languages to foreign construction workers and educate foreign maids to fight the dengue menace, a local health official said on Wednesday.

These were among the new measures taken by the Health Ministry against the dengue, said Lee Kah Choon, parliamentary secretary of the ministry.

He said that the ministry would print brochures and posters for construction site workers from Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh and other countries to raise the awareness.

Construction sites were targeted because they were the second most common breeding spot for the Aedes mosquitoes after homes, he said.

The ministry would also work with the foreign maid agencies to hold seminars to educate foreign maids coming into the country about the disease, the official told local reporters.

The employers also should give the maids the relevant information on the subject, he added.

According to statistics, Malaysia reported 1,065 suspected dengue cases in the country last week, with the Selangor State still remaining on the top of the list with 288 suspected cases detected.

It followed by the Kelantan State with 161 suspected cases, Kuala Lumpur with 132, and the Kedah State with 88.

Source: Xinhua 
 
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/6213607.html