March 18,
2006
Dengue virus update
Saudi Arabia:
As the result of four cases of dengue fever in the town of Jeddah, several
entrepreneurs were reported to be selling adulterated insecticides as a “magic
fix” to kill mosquitoes. Health officials worry that these chemicals might
cause adverse health effects. In recent weeks, the city of Jeddah has started
to fill swamps and still water sites to control the mosquito population. (1)
Vietnam: In
the last week of February, 375 new cases of Dengue fever were reported
nationwide, raising the total to 4,800 so far this year. Most of the cases
center around Ho Chi Minh City. Health officials are worried that the Dengue
outbreak might become an epidemic since the rainy season has not started yet
(it peaks around May) (2).
Brazil: In
comparison to last year, the case rate so far this year is much lower (33,000
in 2005 versus 25,000 in 2006). The outbreak is centered around two cities, Rio
de Janeiro and Goiania. The Secretariat of Health Vigilance, Jarbas Barbosa, says
that the dengue problem is a matter of effective prevention, stating that where
adequate prevention measures were implemented there have been no problems. (3)
Ecuador
(Easter Island) Dengue fever threatens to become endemic in the Easter
Islands. The virus is believed to have been
brought to the island by tourists. (4)
India: In
February, there were 91 cases of Dengue fever in Thiruvananthapuram. (5)
Hong Kong:
So far, all of the reported cases of dengue fever in Hong Kong have been
imported. Health officials are initiating an education campaign about dengue
fever and how to avoid exposure. (6)
US Virgin
Islands: There have been no reported outbreaks this year. Based on last year’s
outbreaks, which affected tourist areas, the health department has created posters
about dengue fever and posted them around various neighborhoods. They have also
distributed free mosquito nets to families with infants and young toddlers and
plan long-term information campaigns in the public schools about dengue and
mosquitoes. (7)
References:
1. Gulf News: Traders exploit dengue to sell adulterated
insecticides
Gulf News (Dubai,
United Arab Emirates)
March 7, 2006
2. South
Vietnam faces dengue epidemic
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2006/02/545951/
Vietnam News Briefs:
Health & Environment: 75.5% of Dengue Fever Patients
Identified in Mekong Delta
Vietnam News Briefs (Vietnam)
February 15, 2006
3. Aumento de casos de dengue no Rio não representa
epidemia, diz ministro interino
Alana Gandra
Repórter da Agência
Brasil
http://internacional.radiobras.gov.br/ingles/
4. Radio New
Zealand Broadcast
5 Alert
against dengue outbreak sounded.
The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/04/stories/2006030421860300.htm
6. The
People’s Daily Online
HK confirms
one imported dengue fever case
http://english.people.com.cn/200602/28/eng20060228_246761.html
7. Health begins campaign to prevent dengue fever
By JOY BLACKBURN
Saturday, February 18th 2006
The Virgin
islands Daily News
http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home%20?id=13408667
Deepu Alex, Carlene Gong, Chelsea
Johnson, Cheryl King, Anthony Ho, Katarro Rountree, and Lisa Sani
Graduate Students, Master of
Science Program in Biohazardous Threat Agents and Emerging Infectious Diseases,
MICB-524 “Emerging Infectious Diseases”
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Georgetown University School of
Medicine