As northern India experiences an outbreak of dengue fever, Anbumani Ramadoss, Federal Health Minister, says the situation is under control and that people must not panic. So far, 500 dengue cases have been reported, of which 28 have been fatal. Fourteen deaths have taken place in the capital, New Delhi. Sixteen new cases have been reported today. Other areas affected are Rajasthan state, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana.
Authorities say measures are underway to contain the spread. However, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, a leading hospital, has been shown to be a festering ground for the mosquito that carries and spreads the disease to humans. So far, the hospital has seen 18 of its staff affected by the disease.
What is Dengue Fever?
It is an infectious disease carried by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito. The illness can be caused by any of 4 related dengue viruses (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4). Dengue fever used to be called Break Bone Fever because of the severe muscle and joint pains that come with it.
The disease is most common during or soon after rainy periods in tropical and subtropical areas, especially in Africa, Southeast Asia and China, India, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Central and South America, Australia and the South and Central Pacific.
Mosquitoes become infected when they bite infected humans – they later transmit the infection to other people they subsequently bite. Dengue is not human transmissible (one person cannot infect another person).
Symptoms
Typical uncomplicated (classic) dengue, which appears 5-6 days after being bitten:
High temperature, severe headache, pain behind the eye, severe joint and/or muscle pain, vomiting, nausea, and a skin rash that covers most of the body for 3-4 days after the onset of fever.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever symptoms, include all of the above, plus:
Damage to blood and lymph vessels, bleeding from the nose, gums, or under the skin, causing bruises. Can be fatal.
Dengue shock syndrome (the most dangerous) symptoms, include all of the above, plus:
Fluids leaking outside of blood vessels, massive bleeding, extremely low blood pressure. Can be fatal.
How to protect yourself
Take all precautions you can to avoid contact with the mosquito. A mosquito repellant containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus can help. Wear long sleeves, long pants (trousers), socks and shoes. Keep unscreened windows and doors closed. Make sure window and door screens are in a good state of repair. Eliminate standing water, mostly found in flower pots, containers, birdbaths, old tyres and pot holes (holes in the road where puddles build up).
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today