The number of dengue fever cases increase by 2,000 in the past week in Thailand with the country cumulative total now eclipsing 130,000 ( 131,647 cases). In addition, four more dengue fatalities were reported with the death tally now at 129.
With the perennial peak for dengue fever cases in Thailand just around the corner, Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn has asked for cooperation from related agencies such as the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Education and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in coordinating with all public health agencies in spotting new cases and implementing preventative measures.
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.
There are three types of dengue fever in order of less severe to most: the typical uncomplicated dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).
Symptoms of DHF, which Por suffers, include all the symptoms of classic dengue (very high fever, up to 105°F, severe headache, pain behind the eye, severe joint and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting and a rash) plus severe damage to the blood vessels. Bleeding from the nose, gums or under the skin are common. This form of dengue can be fatal.
Robert Herriman is a microbiologist and the Editor-in-Chief of Outbreak News Today and the Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch
Follow @bactiman63
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Thank you for the article. Is it possible to relate to us the areas (down to the district level) the number of cases (reported)?