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 fast rise in dengue circumstances over the primary few months of this yr.
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 annually.
In keeping with Puerto Rico’s well being division, the territory has recorded 549 circumstances for the reason that begin of the yr, 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 yr, the Related Press reported.
“This yr, dengue circumstances have exceeded historic figures,” Puerto Rico’s well being secretary Carlos Mellado López stated in a press release.
Dengue has been surging elsewhere, too. Brazil has seen a dramatic uptick in dengue this yr, with multiple million circumstances, whereas Peru skilled a report variety of infections final summer season. 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 means of the chew of an Aedes mosquito contaminated with one of many 4 sorts of the dengue virus.
Most individuals with dengue will present no indicators of an infection or expertise solely gentle signs, resembling fever, muscle and joint ache and nausea. They usually recuperate 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 protracted vomiting.
Those that’ve gotten dengue beforehand usually tend to grow to be critically ailing with a subsequent an infection.
Although there isn’t any particular medication to deal with dengue, victims can take acetaminophen to manage their fever and scale back ache.
How you can maintain your self secure
Roughly half of the Earth’s inhabitants may catch dengue the place they dwell. 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 yr Florida and Texas reported dengue circumstances.
There’s a vaccine for dengue referred to as Dengvaxia. Within the U.S., it’s accredited to be used in youngsters 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 simplest ways to keep away from contracting dengue is to forestall mosquito bites.
Insect repellents resembling DEET, Picaridin and IR3535 can assist maintain mosquitoes at bay. Folks can even 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 frequently dump standing water from objects like flower pots to forestall mosquitoes from laying eggs.
