Half of world population faces dengue risk: WHO

The global incidence of dengue has risen alarmingly in recent decades, with about half of the world’s population at risk now, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO said only nine countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics prior to 1970. But the disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific. Of them, America, South-East Asia and Western Pacific were the most seriously affected regions, it added.

Dengue cases across the Americas, South-East Asia and Western Pacific had exceeded 1.2 million in 2008 and over 3.34 million in 2016, WHO said quoting official data submitted by member states. In Bangladesh, the disease was first detected in 2000. Recently, the Philippines issued a national alert following a severe outbreak of dengue fever.

In 2019, the mosquito-borne tropical disease has caused around 115,000 infections and killed around 500 patients, mostly children.

In Bangladesh, 19,513 cases of dengue infection were reported in the first seven months of this year, breaking all past records in the country.

The dengue outbreak is getting worse by the day with at least 1,712 patients being hospitalised yesterday. The number was the highest for single-day admissions over the past few weeks, according to the Directorate-General of Health Services (DGHS).

It informed that at least 14 dengue patients have died so far. However, the unofficial toll stands at more than 41.

The acting representative of WHO in Dhaka, Dr Edwin Salvador, recently said the dengue situation in Bangladesh was alarming.  Salvador said, “There are two

ways to evaluate the situation—first, the number of dengue patients and second, the number of dengue suspects. The number of dengue patients is increasing along with the suspects. And the situation has been deteriorating till now.”

He warned that the situation might turn epidemic if the trend continued.

The WHO representative added that they were working with the city corporations and health ministry as they had their own strategies to deal with the situation.

Meanwhile, globally, the Americas region reported more than 2.38 million cases in 2016, with Brazil alone accounting for around 1.5 million cases, approximately three times higher than in 2014. Also, 1,032 dengue deaths were reported in the region in 2016.

The Western Pacific Region reported more than 375,000 suspected dengue cases in 2016. Of these, the Philippines reported 176,411 and Malaysia 100,028 cases, which were almost similar to the previous year’s figures in both countries.

A significant reduction (73%) was reported in the number of dengue cases in the Americas—from 2,177,171 cases in 2016 to 584,263 cases in 2017. Panama, Peru and Aruba were the only countries in the region that reported increase in cases in 2017.

WHO’s Western Pacific Region has reported dengue outbreaks in several countries as well as the circulation of DENV-1 and DENV-2 serotypes.

After a drop in the number of cases in 2017-18, a sharp increase in dengue cases was being observed in 2019, WHO said.

In the Western Pacific region, increase in cases were observed in Australia, Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam while Den- 2 was reported in New Caledonia and Den-1 in French Polynesia.

Dengue outbreaks have also been reported in Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania in the African region. Several countries in the American region have also reported increased number of cases.

An estimated 500,000 people with severe dengue require hospitalization each year, and with an estimated fatality rate of 2.5%.

However, many countries have reduced the case fatality rate to less than 1%. Globally, there was 28% decline in fatality between 2010 and 2016, with significant improvement in case management through capacity building at the country level.

To prevent and control the mosquito-borne disease, WHO said the main method at present was to combat vector mosquitoes.

This could be done by preventing

mosquitoes from accessing egg-laying

habitats by environmental management and modification disposing of solid waste properly and removing artificial man-made habitats; covering, emptying and cleaning of domestic water storage containers on a weekly basis; applying appropriate insecticides to water stored in outdoor containers; use of personal household protection measures, such as window screens, long-sleeved clothes, repellents, insecticide treated materials, coils and vaporizers. These measures have to be observed during the day both at home and place of work since the mosquito bites during the day, WHO said.

Other effective methods include improving community participation and mobilization for sustained vector control; applying insecticides as space spraying during outbreaks as one of the emergency vector-control measures and active monitoring and surveillance of vectors should be carried out to determine effectiveness of control interventions.

 

Half of world population faces dengue risk: WHO

The global incidence of dengue has risen alarmingly in recent decades, with about half of the worlds population at risk now, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO said only nine countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics prior to 1970. But the disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific. Of them, America, South-East Asia and Western Pacific were the most seriously affected regions, it added. Dengue cases across the Americas, South-East Asia and Western Pacific had exceeded 1.2 million in 2008 and over 3.34 million in 2016, WHO said quoting official data submitted by member states. In Bangladesh, the disease was first detected in 2000. Recently, the Philippines issued a national alert following a severe outbreak of dengue fever. In 2019, the mosquito-borne tropical disease has caused around 115,000 infections and killed around 500 patients, mostly children. In Bangladesh, 19,513 cases of dengue infection were reported in the first seven months of this year, breaking all past records in the country. The dengue outbreak is getting worse by the day with at least 1,712 patients being hospitalised yesterday. The number was the highest for single-day admissions over the past few weeks, according to the Directorate-General of Health Services (DGHS). It informed that at least 14 dengue patients have died so far. However, the unofficial toll stands at more than 41. The acting representative of WHO in Dhaka, Dr Edwin Salvador, recently said the dengue situation in Bangladesh was alarming. Salvador said, There are two ways to evaluate the situationfirst, the number of dengue patients and second, the number of dengue suspects. The number of dengue patients is increasing along with the suspects. And the situation has been deteriorating till now. He warned that the situation might turn epidemic if the trend continued. The WHO representative added that they were working with the city corporations and health ministry as they had their own strategies to deal with the situation. Meanwhile, globally, the Americas region reported more than 2.38 million cases in 2016, with Brazil alone accounting for around 1.5 million cases, approximately three times higher than in 2014. Also, 1,032 dengue deaths were reported in the region in 2016. The Western Pacific Region reported more than 375,000 suspected dengue cases in 2016. Of these, the Philippines reported 176,411 and Malaysia 100,028 cases, which were almost similar to the previous years figures in both countries. A significant reduction (73%) was reported in the number of dengue cases in the Americasfrom 2,177,171 cases in 2016 to 584,263 cases in 2017. Panama, Peru and Aruba were the only countries in the region that reported increase in cases in 2017. WHOs Western Pacific Region has reported dengue outbreaks in several countries as well as the circulation of DENV-1 and DENV-2 serotypes. After a drop in the number of cases in 2017-18, a sharp increase in dengue cases was being observed in 2019, WHO said. In the Western Pacific region, increase in cases were observed in Australia, Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam while Den- 2 was reported in New Caledonia and Den-1 in French Polynesia. Dengue outbreaks have also been reported in Congo, Cte dIvoire and Tanzania in the African region. Several countries in the American region have also reported increased number of cases. An estimated 500,000 people with severe dengue require hospitalization each year, and with an estimated fatality rate of 2.5%. However, many countries have reduced the case fatality rate to less than 1%. Globally, there was 28% decline in fatality between 2010 and 2016, with significant improvement in case management through capacity building at the country level. To prevent and control the mosquito-borne disease, WHO said the main method at present was to combat vector mosquitoes. This could be done by preventing mosquitoes from accessing egg-laying habitats by environmental management and modification disposing of solid waste properly and removing artificial man-made habitats; covering, emptying and cleaning of domestic water storage containers on a weekly basis; applying appropriate insecticides to water stored in outdoor containers; use of personal household protection measures, such as window screens, long-sleeved clothes, repellents, insecticide treated materials, coils and vaporizers. These measures have to be observed during the day both at home and place of work since the mosquito bites during the day, WHO said. Other effective methods include improving community participation and mobilization for sustained vector control; applying insecticides as space spraying during outbreaks as one of the emergency vector-control measures and active monitoring and surveillance of vectors should be carried out to determine effectiveness of control interventions.