AMID AN alert of the likely continuous increase of dengue fever patients in Thailand is that Brazil too is another country currently trying to contain the spread of this disease, Naewna newspaper and BBC said last evening (Feb. 7).
Dr. Thongchai Keeratihatthayakorn, head of the Disease Control Department, said last month there were 8,197 cases of dengue fever, an increase of 1.9 times over 4,286 cases recorded in Jan. 2023.
The highest number of cases were found in the 5-14 age group children, with most cases being in southern and central regions spread across 11 provinces, he said, adding that the majority of deaths were among those over 65 years of age.
Meanwhile the authorities in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro declared a health emergency as they try to contain the spread of dengue fever.
The incidents of the mosquito-borne disease quadrupled in Brazil in January compared to the same month last year.
Rio has registered 10,000 cases so far this year, compared to 23,000 for the whole of 2023.
Dengue can cause a fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and a blotchy rash.
A dengue vaccine developed by the Japanese company Takeda was approved by Brazil’s health regulator last year, but has not yet been widely distributed.
Eder Gatti of Brazil’s health ministry said the number of doses the public health service had received from the Japanese laboratory were limited. The government therefore plans to prioritise large municipalities with high dengue transmission rates.
Meanwhile, Rio city hall announced it would open 10 treatment centres for people with dengue.
Daniel Soranz, the city’s health secretary, said the aim was to reduce the number of serious cases and deaths caused by the infection. “Early treatment makes all the difference,” he said.
Health officials have also urged people to prevent being bitten by mosquitos by applying repellent.
The health secretary of Minas Gerias, Fabio Baccheretti, blamed high temperatures for the quick spread of the viral infection Brazil has been experiencing in recent months.
“The record temperatures at the end of last year, with the El Niño phenomenon, are a new and determining factor,” he told AFP news agency.
The problem is not confined to Brazil either. Argentina has also seen a spike in dengue cases.
In Thailand, Dr. Jurai Wongsawat, a spokesperson for the Disease Control department, said if people start getting dengue fever symptoms such as high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, red face, nausea, rashes and bleeding spots on the torso, arms and legs, they should not buy and take medicine on their own.
It is safe to take paracetamol to reduce fever but not those in Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) group including ibuprofen, diclofenac and aspirin or a combination of medicines as this could lead to gastrointestinal bleeding that is difficult to treat.
Those who have not improved after taking fever-reducing medicine and wiped down to cool off for one or two days should immediately see a doctor.
If dengue fever is treated quickly severe symptoms and death can be prevented.
People should apply repellent to protect themselves from mosquito bites especially dengue fever patients so as to prevent the disease spreading to others in the community through further mosquito bites.
CAPTIONS:
Top: A mosquito about to bite. Photo: Erik F. Brandsborg (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Front Page: A mosquito. Photo: Getty Images and published by BBC
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