After a period of some 70 years, local transmission of dengue fever has returned to Japan. In a follow-up to a report yesterday, Japanese health officials are reporting an additional 12 indigenous cases in individuals who reside in Tokyo, Osaka, Aomori and Yamanashi prefectures, according to an Asahi Shimbun report today.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

Like all the previous 22 dengue cases, the new dozen cases have not traveled abroad and all have visited Yoyogi Park in Shibuya Ward and its vicinity.

Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. This disease used to be called “break-bone fever” because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain that feels like bones are breaking.

People get the dengue virus from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. It is not contagious from person to person. For more infectious disease news andinformationvisit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page

There are three types of dengue fever in order of less severe to most: the typical uncomplicated dengue fever,dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHS) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there may be 50–100 milliondengue infections worldwide every year. However, new research from the University of Oxford and the Wellcome Trust, using cartographic approaches, estimate there to be 390 million dengue infections per year worldwide.