Almost 6,000 suspected cases of dengue fever, a flu-like illness that is spread by mosquitoes, have been reported in four of Cape Verde"s islands " Santiago, Brava, Fogo and Maio " since the start of October, WHO reported today.
The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal, which is a partner member of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), confirmed the existence of the outbreak from the first series of samples sent to the laboratory.
The Cape Verdean Government has set up a committee to spearhead its efforts to tackle the epidemic, and WHO is helping health officials and the public information technology agency maintain a rapid surveillance and reporting system by text message.
Last week officials from WHO"s regional office and from its inter-country support team, as well as staff from the Pasteur Institute, arrived in Cape Verde to help authorities.
The team will provide laboratory, entomological and epidemiological support and set up laboratory diagnostics at one hospital, and it will also initiate activities to try to control the disease"s spread.
Dengue fever outbreaks often occur when mosquitoes are able to breed in large numbers in artificial containers and improperly managed garbage, and the virus spreads through the bite of the female of the species.
Often persons infected with dengue suffer from mild flu-like symptoms, and may not realize they have the disease. Aside from joint pain, dengue victims experience rashes, nausea and headaches.
But some also suffer a potentially fatal form called dengue haemorrhagic fever, which causes internal bleeding and circulatory failure. Aspirin should be avoided in cases of dengue fever as it is known to increase the tendency to bleed. No vaccine has yet been found for any of the four strains of the virus, and none of the four confer immunity from the others.
Source: UN News
Global 
-
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today paid tribute to Nepal's former prime minister and head of the Nepali Congress party Girija Prasad Koirala, calling his death a “huge loss” both for the country and for its peace process, which ended a decade-long civil war. more
-
In Qinghai pro-Dalai Lama leaflets are distributed, the police occupy the nearby monastery and arrest three monks at random. Secondary school students in Gansu praise the Dalai Lama, the police arrest at least 20 young people. more
-
In a video message on the occasion of Nowruz, the U.S. president stresses that the policy of a "helping hand" is always valid, even if Iran has chosen “isolation". He hopes for more cultural and educational exchanges between young Iranians and Americans, and free internet access. more
-
The program is run by Caritas and the Philippines Association of lay Dominicans. Since 1976, over 10 thousand prisoners have been reintegrated into society through training and psychological and spiritual help inside and outside prison. more
-
In a Letter to the Catholics of Ireland, Benedict XVI returns to openly confront the issue of paedophile priests. Who must also go before the courts. "Shame and remorse" for what happened. Critical of the bishops who failed to safeguard, instead suppressed and concealed. He reminds victims that ... more
-
In the church of the Holy Cross, a parish in the capital, over 120 children have prayed and meditated on the themes of "sacrifice, service and growth in spiritual life." A seminar in the Lenten season to "welcome and celebrate the risen Christ." Local priests: the children learn the value of the ... more
-
U.S. President Barack Obama has renewed his administration's offer of dialogue and diplomacy with Tehran. more
-
Thousands of protesters gathered across Russia to protest the authorities' handling of the economic crisis and demand the resignation of Vladimir Putin's government. more
-
The United States and Pakistan will hold a round of strategic dialogues in Washington next week, the first to be held at the ministerial level. more
Comments
|
|
RSS