Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - Dengue or “break bone” fever continues to spread in many countries in the world as the number of people infected rises at an alarming rate. Dengue, which has influenza type symptoms, strikes mainly in south east Asian countries but more cases are being registered in South and Central America and the Caribbean.
Dengue is an arthropod (insect) borne infection similar in its lifecycle to yellow fever.
There are multiple serotypes of dengue and the clinical presentation depends upon the specific viral variant as well as the victim’s previous exposure to dengue infection. Clinical dengue can cause a severe flu-like syndrome and has, appropriately been called “break bone” fever. This common type of dengue is usually a self-limited infection with symptoms lasting from ten to fourteen days. A much more severe form in patients who have had previous infection with dengue can cause rapid death. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) or Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) kills adults as well as children and is seen even in infants 3 to 6 months old in whom dengue antibodies had come through the placenta
There are approximately 25 million cases per year of classical dengue cases and estimates of up to 400,000 cases DHF and DSS.
In Panama the first mortal case since 1995 was recently registered. The patient was a 44 year old woman who died of Dengue on 16 July at her home in village of Vietnam, in the province of Colón.
In Malaysia a group of 4 researchers of the department of Microbiology at Malaya University has discovered a natural remedy for Dengue: an anti-virus which will be marketed as pills next year. This is the first discovery of an anti-virus to cure a mosquito carried infection.
In Indonesia since January this year 4,500 patients with Dengue have been hospitalised and 91 of then died, many in Jakarta, whereas Java is the most affected area.
In El Salvador the health Ministry has issued a national health warning since 770 new cases were reported over the past few days bringing the total number of cases of Dengue in this country to 1,482.
For its part, recalling the 1998 epidemic of Dengue which killed 1,2 million people in 52 different countries, the World Health Organisation warns that in the present conditions the same figure could be reached again this year.
(AP) (29/7/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:35; Parole:451)
