Dengue in Honduras: 42,000 cases in 2019 to date

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

In one follow-up of the dengue fever epidemic in HondurasAccording to a report from Telesur TV, the Ministry of Health reported Friday that the number of cases is now 42,300, including 59 deaths.

More than 9,000 severe dengue cases have been reported to date.

The number of cases so far this year is about five times higher than the total for the whole of 2018 (nearly 8,000).

The departments of Atlántida, Cortés, Yoro and Santa Bárbara are the most affected – 80% of deaths and infections are recorded.

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Honduras has been on national alert since 2 July.

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).

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.

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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.