Dengue-local or global fever?

Dengu is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus and is also known as “breakbone fever”. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. In a small proportion of cases, the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs. Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes, principally A. aegypti.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some 3.9 billion people in 128 countries are at risk of dengue globally. “Unknown to most, India is today the epicenter of the global epidemic of dengue, harboring the largest number of dengue infections in the world. A year earlier, in 2013, an assessment by a team of 18 researchers from seven countries, published in the British journal, Nature, said “India alone contributed 22-44 million dengue infections” in the world.

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The dengue outbreak, which had at last count infected nearly 25,000 people, close to 4,000 of them in Delhi alone this year in 2015, could in fact be much bigger than these numbers. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 20,000 confirmed cases of dengue were reported every year on average between 2006 and 2012. There were 75,808 cases in 2013 and 40,571 in 2014. Huge underreporting of the incidence of the disease is hampering the response and exposing many to danger.

Prevention better than Cure…

 The virus has five different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Subsequent infection with a different type increases the risk of severe complications. As there is no commercially available vaccine, prevention is sought by reducing the habitat and the number of mosquitoes and limiting exposure to bites. Treatment of acute dengue is supportive, using either oral or intravenous rehydration for mild or moderate disease, and intravenous fluids and blood transfusion for more severe cases.

The World Health Organization recommends an Integrated Vector Control program consisting of five elements:

1.     Advocacy, social mobilization and legislation to ensure that public health bodies and communities are strengthened;

2.     Collaboration between the health and other sectors (public and private);

3.     An integrated approach to disease control to maximize use of resources;

4.     Evidence-based decision making to ensure any interventions are targeted appropriately; and

5.     Capacity-building to ensure an adequate response to the local situation.

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Sheer numbers make it imperative that public health measures aimed at controlling the breeding of mosquitoes are adopted. There is no way a hospital system can be designed to cater to such gigantic numbers.

The fight against this virus has reached a global gamut and hence needs an apt solution.

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About the Author: Rishabh Raj Singh is currently a student at Delhi University and is whole heartedly dedicated to join Indian Army .It’s his dream too to serve the country like every other aspirant. He loves music (Guitar) and art (Pencil Sketching), sports (Boxing) and games (Table Tennis) and is a state level Swimmer.