Dengue cases in Sri Lanka nearly 20,000 in 5 months

By NewsDesk @ bactiman63

Nearly 20,000 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Sri Lanka during the first five months of 2019, according to data from the country's epidemiology unit.

From January 1 to May 31, 19,785 cases and 28 deaths were reported throughout the country.

Colombo (4274), Gampaha (2536) and Jaffna (1906) reported the largest number of cases.

In 2018, more than 51,000 dengue cases and about 50 deaths occurred.

Mosquito Control Program Reduces Dengue Costs in Sri Lanka

Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Four closely related but antigenically different virus serotypes can cause dengue fever (DEN1, DEN 2, DEN 3, DEN 4).

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube

• Dengue fever (DF) – characterized by the sudden onset of high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes and pain in the muscles and joints. Some may also have a rash and varying degrees of bleeding in various parts of the body (including nose, mouth and gums or bruising). Dengue fever has a broad spectrum of infection (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Symptomatic illness may range from dengue fever to more severe hemorrhagic fever.
• Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) – is a more serious form, observed only in a small proportion of infected persons. DH is a stereotypical disease characterized by 3 phases; febrile phase with high fever continues usually less than 7 days; critical phase (plasma leakage) lasting 1 to 2 days, usually apparent when the fever drops, causing shock if not detected and treated promptly; convalescence phase lasting 2 to 5 days with improvement of appetite, bradycardia (fast heart rate), convalescent rash (white plaques on a red background), often accompanied by generalized itching (more intense in the palms and soles of the feet) and diuresis (increase in urinary output).
• Dengue shock syndrome (DSS) – Shock syndrome is a dangerous complication of dengue fever and is badociated with high mortality. Severe dengue occurs as a result of secondary infection with a different serotype virus. Increased vascular permeability, badociated with myocardial dysfunction and dehydration, contributes to the occurrence of shock resulting in multiorgan failure.

Situation of influenza and chikungunya in Thailand

Taiwan reports a resurgence of dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis locally

Nipah virus confirmed in Kerala, India

Poliomyelitis: Transmission to Pakistan continues to be widespread, Iran reports additional environmental sample of PVS1