The severe form of dengue fever continues to mount in Laos – Xinhua

VIENTIANE, July 18 (Xinhua) – Laos is facing an epidemic of the most virulent form of the dengue virus during the rainy season.

The National Laboratory and Epidemiology Center in Lao determined that Dengue serotype 2 and 4 viruses were the causative organisms of more than 14,000 registered dengue cases, which resulted in up to 31 deaths. 39, the local daily Vientiane Times reported Thursday.

Serotype 2 causes haemorrhagic fever, which results in a high mortality rate, and type 2 strain badysis has shown that the virus has mutated.

Lao Health Minister Bounkong Syhavong said Vientiane was suffering from an epidemic of the most toxic type 2 dengue virus. Champasak, Savannakhet and other southern provinces have also recorded cases of type 2 virus.

"At this time of year, if a person gets sick, she should suspect dengue to be the cause of her illness and get tested at a hospital," he said.

"People infected with type 2 virus can become seriously ill in two days instead of four or five days," he added.

The number of dengue cases recorded in Laos has increased significantly this year. On Tuesday, 14,242 cases and 31 deaths were reported, while 6,446 cases and 19 deaths were recorded in 2018.

Bounkong said the Lao Health Ministry is encouraging the public to ensure that all stagnant water is removed in order to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes that cause dengue fever. The ministry also stresses the need to establish correct diagnoses and administer effective treatment.

Dengue fever is caused by four viruses, namely, VEN 1, 2, 3, and 4. The dengue virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito and causes a wide range of diseases ranging from high blood pressure to high blood pressure. a mild asymptomatic disease to a lethal fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 2.5 billion people live in dengue risk groups and that about 100 million new cases each year in the world.

According to the WHO, climate change and global warming will increase the number of vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever. Dengue fever has become the most widespread mosquito-borne viral disease in the world.