I’ll have you know that malaria is not the only mosquito borne disease. Another mosquito borne viral infection that has unfortunately seen a recent surge in cases around the world is dengue fever. This rise is mostly significant to tropical and subtropical regions.
Over 7.6 million cases have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2024 so far, with the Americas being the most affected region. Despite its growing prevalence, dengue fever remains a disease many people haven’t heard of. Therefore, in this article, we’re going to look at what dengue fever is, the cause of the rise, and its prevention.
What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue fever is a sickness caused by a virus transmitted through mosquito bites, primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
There are four different types of the dengue virus, called serotypes: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4. If you get infected with one type, you become immune to that type for life, but you can still get sick from the other three types.
This means a person can catch dengue up to four times, and getting it more than once can make you sicker each time.
Just like any other illness, dengue fever comes with its own symptoms. When you have dengue fever, you might suddenly get a high fever, bad headaches, pain behind your eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, and a rash. These symptoms usually show up about 4-10 days after a mosquito bite and can last for about a week.
Remember that if a person catches dengue before, that person can get sicker next time. In a case like this, dengue fever can get very serious and turn into more dangerous conditions called dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. Dengue hemorrhagic fever can cause bleeding, blood vessel damage, and low blood platelets, while dengue shock syndrome can lead to dangerously low blood pressure. Both of these conditions can be life-threatening and need immediate medical attention to be treated.
Why is Dengue on the Rise?
Dengue fever cases are increasing worldwide for several reasons. One major factor is climate change. As temperatures get warmer, mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus can survive and spread the disease for longer periods each year. More rainfall and higher humidity also create perfect conditions for mosquitoes to breed, and populate.
Second, urbanization plays a role in this situation. Dengue-carrying mosquitoes thrive in crowded cities with poor sanitation. Places with unmanaged garbage and stagnant water, like clogged drains or discarded containers, become ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. This puts people living in cities at a higher risk of getting dengue fever.
Have you heard about population movement? If you’re not familiar with the term, its simply referring to people traveling from one place to another or relocating to new areas. This movement can contribute to the spread of dengue fever because infected individuals can carry the virus with them to new locations.
For example, someone who contracts dengue fever in one city or country can travel to another region where the virus is not yet present. If the local mosquito population in that new area is conducive to spreading the virus, the virus can be transmitted to new people. So what the last sentence means is that certain types of mosquitoes, specifically the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species, are known to transmit the dengue virus. If these types of mosquitoes are present and active in the new area where an infected person travels or relocates to the mosquitoes could bite the infected person and then spread the dengue virus to others in the local population.
How Serious is Dengue?
Dengue fever can range from mild to severe. Most cases are mild, causing symptoms like high fever, headaches, muscle pain, and a rash. These usually go away on their own with rest and fluids like water, electrolyte solutions (sports drinks), and fruit juices help prevent dehydration caused by fever and sweating.
But in some cases, dengue can get very serious. Like in the case of dengue hemorrhagic fever. This severe form can lead to shock and even death if not treated quickly. While many people with dengue get better on their own, it’s still very important to watch out for these serious signs and get medical help right away if they do happen.
Can Dengue Be Prevented?
Yes, dengue can be prevented mainly by avoiding mosquito bites. You can do this by using mosquito repellent on exposed skin, wearing long sleeves and pants, especially during late nights and early hours of the morning when mosquitoes are most active, and sleeping under mosquito nets if you’re in an area with dengue.
Moreover, it’s also important to get rid of any standing water around your home where mosquitoes can breed, like in old tires or flower pots. There’s also been work on a vaccine to prevent dengue, but it’s not widely available yet and has limitations. The vaccine doesn’t protect equally well against all types of dengue virus, so it’s not a perfect solution. That’s why preventing mosquito bites is still the best way to avoid getting dengue.
Conclusion
Dengue fever has been spreading a lot in 2024, with over 7.6 million cases reported globally to the WHO, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. It’s caused by mosquitoes, like the Aedes aegypti. Symptoms include high fever, bad headaches, and rash, and it can get really serious with conditions like dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome that need urgent medical help.
The increase in cases is because of climate change making mosquito seasons longer, cities getting crowded and messy, which mosquitoes love, and people moving around spreading the virus. To prevent it, use mosquito repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, and get rid of any standing water. There’s a vaccine, but it doesn’t work perfectly yet, so the best bet is still avoiding mosquito bites to stay safe from dengue fever.
