How to protect yourself and your family from dengue fever: Is dengue vaccine (Dengvaxia) safe for everyone?
Dengue fever is a debilitating mosquito-borne infection that causes flu-like symptoms like fever, a severe headache, nausea, vomiting, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, skin rash, etc. It is caused by any one of four types of dengue viruses and spread by Aedes mosquitoes. Dengue is usually not fatal and most people recover within a week or so. However, it can develop into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. As the monsoon progresses, cases of dengue fever tend to increase across the country. Bengaluru witnessed a sudden outbreak of dengue this year and figures released by the Public Health Information and Epidemiological Cell (PHIEC) showed that there has been a surge in the mosquito-borne viral infections with the city recording about 3,500 cases from January to July 2019 - which is a huge spike from last year where 555 cases were recorded during the same period.
For the first time in this century, the government of Philippines has declared a national epidemic of dengue fever with the vector-borne disease claiming the lives of at least 622 in 2019 alone, as per a report published in The BMJ. The country also recorded 146,062 dengue cases from January to 20 July this year, which is more than a 98% increase from the previous year in the same period.
Currently, Bangladesh is grappling with its worst dengue fever outbreak, as per official data. The Directorate of General Health Services (DGHS) data revealed that so far, nearly 30,000 people have been infected with the disease which is prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the global incidence of dengue has increased 30-fold in the past 50 years. The actual numbers of dengue cases are unreported and many cases are misclassified because a vast majority of the cases are asymptomatic, which means patients show no signs or symptoms despite being affected by the virus. Yet, it is said that an estimated 390 million dengue infections occur per year around the world.
Treatment: Is there a cure for dengue fever?
Currently, there is no specific treatment or cure for dengue/severe dengue, but early detection and treatment can help avoid complications and lower fatality rates. Usually, dengue patients are recommended to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration from a high fever or vomiting. Painkillers, such as Tylenol or paracetamol are being used to help lower fever and ease the pain. However, pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen are not advised as they can increase the risk of internal bleeding.
People with more severe forms of dengue may require supportive care in a hospital, which involves intravenous (IV) fluid supplementation, blood transfusion, etc. Dengue fever, if severe, can damage your vital organs such as the lungs, liver or heart. Your blood pressure can also drop to dangerous levels, resulting in shock and, in some cases, even death.
How can you prevent dengue?
Avoiding mosquito bites is the best way to control or prevent the transmission of dengue virus. All four dengue viruses are transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti and Ae. Albopictus) mosquitoes that also spread chikungunya and Zika viruses. The following tips can help prevent or reduce the risk of getting dengue and other vector-borne diseases:
- Keep your surroundings clean, including disposal of solid waste properly, to help prevent mosquitoes from accessing egg-laying habitats
- Wear protective clothing especially when you go into mosquito-infested areas
- Use mosquito repellent - opt for a repellent that contains at least a 10% concentration of DEET for your skin.
- Take steps to improve community participation and mobilisation for sustained vector control
Is there a vaccine for dengue fever?
In April 2016, the WHO approved Sanofi Pasteur’s Dengvaxia (CYD-TDV) for use in those aged 9-45 years who live in dengue-endemic areas. Dengvaxia, which is a live recombinant tetravalent vaccine for dengue fever, has been shown to prevent infections slightly more than half the time. The WHO added the CYD-TDV vaccine has been shown to be efficacious and safe in persons who have had a previous dengue virus infection in clinical trials, but it carries an increased risk of severe dengue in those who have not been infected with a dengue virus.