By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Since the dengue outbreak began in Tanzania one year ago, 6,677 cases have been reported, including 13 deaths, according to an ANI report.

Tanzania/CIA

Tanzanian Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Seniors and Children Ummy Mwalimu said, “There are 6,631 cases of infection and 11 deaths in Dar es Salaam region alone.”

It appears that the outbreak is slowing as there were 536 cases of infection with the dengue virus in June, while only six cases have been reported since early July.

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV 

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. There are four closely related but antigenically different serotypes of the virus that can cause dengue (DEN1, DEN 2, DEN 3, DEN 4).

Dengue Fever (DF) – marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in muscles and joints. Some may also have a rash and varying degree of bleeding from various parts of the body (including nose, mouth and gums or skin bruising).Dengue has a wide spectrum of infection outcome (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Symptomatic illness can vary from dengue fever (DF) to the more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) – is a more severe form, seen only in a small proportion of those infected. DHF is a stereotypic illness characterized by 3 phases; febrile phase with high continuous fever usually lasting for less than 7 days; critical phase (plasma leaking) lasting 1-2 days usually apparent when fever comes down, leading to shock if not detected and treated early; convalescence phase lasting 2-5 days with improvement of appetite, bradycardia (slow heart rate), convalescent rash (white patches in red background), often accompanied by generalized itching (more intense in palms and soles), and diuresis (increase urine output).

Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) — Shock syndrome is a dangerous complication of dengue infection and is associated with high mortality. Severe dengue occurs as a result of secondary infection with a different virus serotype. Increased vascular permeability, together with myocardial dysfunction and dehydration, contribute to the development of shock, with resultant multiorgan failure.


Zimbabwe: More than 850 typhoid cases reported in Harare

Kenya: Suspected anthrax outbreak in Kisumu County