Public warned over dengue fever epidemic |16 April 2008

The Department of Health says that since January 73,000 cases have been reported in South America, with 84 deaths; two cases have also been reported in Reunion.

Dengue fever is caused by one of four viruses transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes. It is spread when a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites an uninfected person. The small amount of blood necessary to infect someone is passed on.

Since dengue is a mosquito-borne disease, just like chikungunya, it can spread from one infected person to many, the health department says in a press release.

So one case from Brazil, for example, can spread to other parts of the world where the Aedes mosquito lives – the Americas, southern Europe, North Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, Asia, Australia, various islands in the Indian Ocean, the South Pacific, the Central Pacific and the Caribbean.

The fever can then easily be imported to Seychelles by travellers to these regions. Once here, it can pass from one person to another as we have the type of mosquito that spreads it.

Travellers to the places mentioned above are advised to: wear white long-sleeved shirts and long trousers tucked into socks, use mosquito netting over the bed, stay away from heavily populated areas, wear mosquito repellent and seek medical attention at the first sign of dengue fever symptoms.

Outbreaks of dengue fever occurred in Seychelles in 1978, 1989 and 2004. With about an eighth of the population now considered immune to dengue strain II, it is assumed that most Seychellois are still vulnerable to catching the next and future strains. These are likely to become progressively worse with more serious results.

Dengue usually shows symptoms five to six days after the infecting bite – a high fever, generally 40 degrees C, vomiting, nausea and a headache. Joint and muscular pain follow within the next days, and a flat, red rash may appear and spread from the torso to the limbs and face. The severe pains give dengue its nickname, break-bone fever.

Diagnosis is made through blood tests that scan for antibodies to dengue viruses. As with most viral illnesses there is no effective cure for the disease, and an infected person can re-experience symptoms if exposed to another of the four strains of the virus.

The Department of Health is anxious to prevent dengue, mostly by reducing the mosquitoes that carry it.
It is urging the public to look for and get rid of containers that can hold water and breed mosquitoes, for example cans, potted plant trays, old tyres and buckets.

If you are travelling, especially to the parts of the world mentioned above:
.Take your mosquito repellent and use it by following the label directions and precautions closely
.Wear long sleeves, trousers and socks, especially if you go into areas with high mosquito populations such as forest and marshes
.Use bed nets if available
.Use a spray that kills mosquitoes in your room at night before you go to bed, especially in dark areas and corners.