Sir: The planet of earth is rich in eternal beauty but the prosperity and tranquility provided by nature to this part of the universe is in shambles today. High population growth rate, urbanisation, global warming and new environmental constraints are evolving the issue of disease outbreaks and dengue fever is one of them. South Asia, South East Asia, Africa and South America are those hapless continents in which the maledictions of dengue virus are yet to be eradicated.
The dengue virus has exposed itself in five serotypes throughout the globe. Humans are the primary host of the virus. A female mosquito that takes a blood meal from a person infected with dengue fever becomes itself infected with the virus which also includes her salivary glands. The infected mosquito lays its eggs in artificial water containers and feed on human beings. When a mosquito carrying dengue virus bites a person, the virus enters the skin together with the mosquito’s saliva. Fever, myalgia, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and a rash are the initial symptoms of dengue fever which are followed by petechia, positive tourniquet test and mild bleeding from the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose. In some cases, the infection may progress to the dengue shock syndrome and dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Currently there is no licenced vaccine and antiviral drug to beat the perils in the affected regions. Various research institutes and pharmaceutical companies should be sponsored and patronised for swift invention of an effective vaccine and antiviral drug.
The elimination of the dengue virus demands both long term and short term plans. The affected countries need to undertake an exercise of screening their citizens for timely detection of the virus and isolation of the affected individuals.
DR FAISAL ALI
Abbottabad