Rising Cases of Dengue Fever in Somaliland

Somaliland’s main opposition party, Waddani is now accusing the government of failing to address the increasing cases of Dengue fever in the country. Waddani Party spokesperson Barkhad Jama Batuun, expressed concerns over the government’s handling of the situation. Dengue fever, spread by mosquitos, is the source of the outbreak and the deaths of unspecified number of citizens in Somaliland.

What Is Dengue Fever?

Dengue (DEN-gee) fever is a tropical disease caused by a virus carried by mosquitoes. The virus can cause fever, headaches, rashes, and pain throughout the body. Most cases of dengue fever are mild and go away on their own after about a week.

Dengue fever rarely strikes in the continental United States, though small outbreaks have happened in Texas, Florida, and Hawaii. But Dengue fever is common in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It’s also common in many tropical countries in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. If you plan to travel to a foreign country, especially one in the tropics, it’s wise to guard against dengue fever. Wearing insect repellent, covering sleep areas with netting, and avoiding the outdoors at dusk and dawn (when mosquitoes are most active) can help lower the chances of infection.

What Causes Dengue Fever?

Dengue fever is caused by four similar viruses spread by mosquitoes of the genus, which are common in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide.

When a mosquito bites a person who’s been infected with a dengue virus, the mosquito can become a carrier of the virus. If this mosquito bites someone else, that person can be infected with the dengue virus and can then get sick with dengue fever. The virus can’t spread directly from person to person.

In rare cases, dengue fever can lead to a more serious form of the disease called dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF can be life-threatening and needs to be treated right away.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Dengue Fever?

Symptoms of dengue fever are generally mild in younger children and those who have the disease for the first time. Older kids, adults, and those who have had a previous infection may have moderate to severe symptoms.

Common signs and symptoms of dengue fever include:

• high fever, possibly as high as 105°F (40°C)
• pain behind the eyes and in the joints, muscles and/or bones
• severe headache
• rash over most of the body
• mild bleeding from the nose or gums
• bruising easily

Dengue fever used to be called “break-bone fever,” which might give you an idea of the severe bone and muscle pain it sometimes can cause. The fever isn’t actually breaking any bones, but it can sometimes feel like it is.

How Long Does Dengue Fever Last?

Symptoms can start anywhere from 4 days to 2 weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito, and typically last for 2 to 7 days.

After the fever eases, other symptoms can get worse and may cause more severe bleeding; gastrointestinal problems like nausea, vomiting, or severe abdominal (belly) pain; and respiratory problems like difficulty breathing. Dehydration, heavy bleeding, and a rapid drop in blood pressure (shock) can follow if DHF goes untreated. These symptoms are life-threatening and need medical care right away.

Someone who’s had the illness becomes immune to that particular type of the virus (but can still be infected by any of the other three types).

How Is Dengue Fever Diagnosed?

Diagnosing dengue fever can be difficult because its signs and symptoms can be easily confused with those of other diseases — such as Zika virus, malaria and typhoid fever.

Your doctor will likely ask about your medical and travel history. Be sure to describe in detail any contact you may have had with mosquitoes.

Your doctor may also draw a sample of blood to be tested in a lab for evidence of infection with one of the dengue viruses.

For patients with suspected dengue virus disease, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are the preferred method of laboratory diagnosis. It can also be done a blood test to check for the virus antigen or antibodies to it

How Is Dengue Fever Treated?

No specific treatment is available for dengue fever. Mild cases are managed with lots of fluids to prevent dehydration and getting plenty of rest. Pain relievers with acetaminophen can ease the headaches and pain from dengue fever. Pain relievers with aspirin or ibuprofen should be avoided, as they can make bleeding more likely.

Most cases of dengue fever go away within a week or two and won’t cause any lasting problems. If someone has severe symptoms of the disease, or if symptoms get worse in the first day or two after the fever goes away, get medical care right away. This could be an indication of DHF, which is a medical emergency.

To treat severe cases of dengue fever at a hospital, doctors will give intravenous (IV) fluids and electrolytes (salts) to replace those lost through vomiting or diarrhea. When started early, this is usually enough to effectively treat the disease. In more advanced cases, doctors may have to do a blood transfusion.

In all cases of dengue infection, efforts should be made to keep the infected person from being bitten by mosquitoes. This will help prevent the illness from spreading to others.

Source: Nemours