The dengue fever outbreak in Yemen, first reported one week ago, has more than doubled in this very short period, according to the latest numbers released by the Supreme Medical Committee in Aden.
It was reported last week that war-torn Yemen is experiencing a wide-ranging health crisis, which included an outbreak of dengue fever. It was reported to that more than 3,000 cases were seen in Yemen.
Today, the Anadolu Agency reported the number of people ill with Dengue fever has reached 8,036 and the number of deaths stands at 586.
Speaking exclusively to Anadolu Agency, Abdel Nasser al-Waly said that “the number of those stricken with Dengue fever in Aden has increased remarkably over the past three weeks.”
“This statistic is perhaps not accurate because it does not include cases that do not reach the hospitals,” he added.
In India, dengue is hyperendemic in many areas or states, in fact it has been noted that the country may see some 6 million cases annually; however, it is reported in Bangalore that the “spread of dengue has stoked people’s fears and there has been a considerable increase in the demand for platelet transfusions even when the infection can be managed without one.” This is of course causing shortages of the blood product.
Sudarshan Ballal, Medical Director, Manipal Hospital, said people should allow the doctors to decide on platelet transfusion. “It is good to be aware of the infection. But, people should not panic. We have a strict policy in our hospital, and we prescribe transfusion only when the count goes below 10,000 or there is active bleeding,” he said.
In Malaysia, the number of dengue fever cases this year are about 34% more than the same period in 2014. There was slightly more than 40,000 cases from Jan. 1 to mid June 2014; however. the country has reported more than 55,000 cases to date this year. The death tally due to dengue stands at 152.
2 thoughts on “Dengue outbreak in Yemen, India demand platelet transfusions causing shortages, Malaysia sees 30% increase”