INDIA: DENGUE VIRUS NOW A YEARLONG DISEASE

Written by Michael Thervil

INDIA: DENGUE VIRUS NOW A YEARLONG DISEASE

[India Dengue] While the southern states in the United States worry with Texas calling for a state of emergency because of the screwworm parasite that resulted in Canada banning Texas Beef, India is facing another emerging threat that used to be referred to as a seasonal disease to not a full-blown year-round disease called Dengue. For India, Dengue infection cases typically increase just before the monsoon season which spans between June to September. Indian health officials have concluded that the growing shift in the increase of Dengue cases beyond the monsoon season is due to temperatures continuously rising for longer, shifting rainfall patterns and increasing urbanization within India.

Mosquitoes who are the primary carriers of the Dengue Virus which cause Dengue Fever are able to reproduce, infect, and survive longer because of the increase in human growth and expansion. It was reported by the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) that there were an estimated 6,927 Dengue cases in the month of February alone this year. It has been predicted that that number will double, if not triple, by the end of the monsoon season, smashing records that were set years before.

In terms of location where infection rates were the highest, the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu had the highest number of cases at 2,873 cases followed by Maharashtra which reported 786, then Kerala who reported 670 cases, and Karnataka who reported an estimated 560 cases this year alone. It should be noted that the southern parts of India will most likely show the highest number of Dengue cases due to it’s geographical location.

Signs and symptoms of Dengue Fever consist of high fever with body temperatures of ~104° F / 40° C coupled with severe headaches, intense pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and a rash. Other signs and symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, severe abdominal pains, extreme fatigue, and difficulty breathing. The gestation period spans between two and seven days after being bitten by a mosquito. It is recommended that when going outdoors were the Dengue viruses and cases prevalent, wear long sleeves combined with mosquito repellent. To decrease exposure in the home, use window screens and air conditioning systems. There are Dengue vaccines available.