Victoria Micieli, director and scientist on the Middle for Parasitological and Vector Research of the nationwide scientific analysis institute CONICET, classifies totally different species of mosquitoes at a laboratory in La Plata, in Argentina’s Buenos Aires Province, on Tuesday.
Luis Robayo/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
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Luis Robayo/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Victoria Micieli, director and scientist on the Middle for Parasitological and Vector Research of the nationwide scientific analysis institute CONICET, classifies totally different species of mosquitoes at a laboratory in La Plata, in Argentina’s Buenos Aires Province, on Tuesday.
Luis Robayo/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Puerto Rico has issued a public well being emergency after recording an unusually speedy rise in dengue circumstances over the primary few months of this 12 months.
It is the most recent space to grapple with a surge of infections of the mosquito-borne illness, which sickens an estimated 100–400 million individuals globally every year.
In keeping with Puerto Rico’s well being division, the territory has recorded 549 circumstances for the reason that begin of the 12 months, practically half of which have occurred within the San Juan area. Puerto Rico noticed a complete of 1,293 circumstances all through all of final 12 months, the Related Press reported.
“This 12 months, dengue circumstances have exceeded historic figures,” Puerto Rico’s well being secretary Carlos Mellado López stated in an announcement.
Dengue has been surging elsewhere, too. Brazil has seen a dramatic uptick in dengue this 12 months, with multiple million circumstances, whereas Peru skilled a report variety of infections final summer time. Argentina can also be on the cusp of a record-breaking dengue outbreak.
In keeping with the World Well being Group, about half of the world’s inhabitants is now in danger for the illness.
What’s dengue?
Folks usually contract dengue by the chew of an Aedes mosquito contaminated with one of many 4 varieties of the dengue virus.
Most individuals with dengue will present no indicators of an infection or expertise solely delicate signs, akin to fever, muscle and joint ache and nausea. They usually get better in a single or two weeks.
In keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, solely 1 / 4 of individuals contaminated with dengue get sick.
In uncommon circumstances, dengue can require hospitalization and be probably deadly. Extra extreme signs embrace bleeding gums and nostril, belly ache and chronic vomiting.
Those that’ve gotten dengue beforehand usually tend to develop into severely in poor health with a subsequent an infection.
Although there isn’t a particular medication to deal with dengue, victims can take acetaminophen to regulate their fever and cut back ache.
The right way to preserve your self protected
Roughly half of the Earth’s inhabitants might catch dengue the place they stay. Discovered mostly in tropical and subtropical climates, dengue is endemic to greater than 100 nations in Asia, Africa, the Americas and elsewhere, in line with the WHO, and has been spreading to elements of Europe. Final 12 months Florida and Texas reported dengue circumstances.
There’s a vaccine for dengue known as Dengvaxia. Within the U.S., it’s permitted to be used in kids between ages 9–16 who’ve beforehand been contaminated with the illness, and in different elements of the world it’s accessible to adults as much as age 45.
Specialists say one of the best ways to keep away from contracting dengue is to forestall mosquito bites.
Insect repellents akin to DEET, Picaridin and IR3535 may also help preserve mosquitoes at bay. Folks also can put on loose-fitting clothes that covers their legs and arms and use mosquito nets.
At residence, individuals ought to have screens in home windows and doorways and usually dump standing water from objects like flower pots to forestall mosquitoes from laying eggs.
