PixabayA tiger mosquito
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 19:50
The number of cases of dengue fever could reach a record high worldwide this year, in part due to climate change. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns against this. Global warming favors the mosquitoes that spread the disease.
About half of the world’s population is currently at risk of getting dengue fever, according to a specialist from the health organization. In January of this year, the WHO already warned that the tropical disease is spreading extremely quickly and that a pandemic is imminent.
Hospitals full
For example, there are currently great concerns about a serious dengue outbreak in Peru. Last month it was announced that the death toll there has risen to 248 and hospitals in the country are full. President Dina Boluarte has declared a state of emergency in 18 of the country’s 24 regions.
The outbreak is also being exacerbated by Peruvian health authorities The boy. Due to the warming of the sea water, there are more dengue mosquitoes, which in turn make more dengue fever victims.
Dengue is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, in particular the yellow fever mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito. The disease is also known as dengue fever.
It is the most common mosquito-borne viral infectious disease. About 400 million people are infected with it every year. Most have no symptoms. About 100 million people do become ill and 500,000 people become seriously ill. Dengue fever leads to death in less than 1 percent of cases.
The mosquitoes that transmit the virus mainly live in tropical and subtropical regions, including Africa, Southeast Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Common symptoms are a high fever with chills. Victims vomited and coughed a lot and had severe headaches behind the eyes. There is also a lot of pain in the muscles, bones and joints. The symptoms usually last for a week to two weeks. The complaints often become more serious with a second or third dengue infection.
Experts think a warmer climate helps mosquitoes multiply faster. The virus in mosquitoes also multiplies faster in warm weather. According to the WHO, it is still too early to say whether the current heat wave is affecting the spread of dengue.
Tiger mosquito in the Netherlands
At the beginning of this month, the tiger mosquito reappeared at a business park in Weert. It does not occur naturally in the Netherlands, but has been reported sporadically in recent years. It is suspected that the mosquito piggybacks on international truck transports of, for example, car tires and bamboo plants.
In the Netherlands, dengue fever only occurs as an imported disease. People who travel there are bitten by an infected mosquito and take the dengue infection with them. Every year there are approx 150 cases reported. Dengue fever is not transmitted from person to person.
Since April 2023, a dengue vaccine has been available in the Netherlands to protect you as a traveler. Until now you could only protect yourself against the disease by wearing covering clothing and using mosquito repellents.
2023-07-21 17:50:51
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