In the first autochthonous outbreak of dengue fever in some 70 years, more than 100 cases have been confirmed since the first case was seen 16 days ago.
The Japanese wire service, Jiji Press reports that with the addition of eight more confirmed cases, it brings the total to 104. Nearly all of cases had visited the apparent epicenter of the outbreak, Yoyogi Park in central Tokyo.
The 104 infected people come from 15 prefectures across Japan.
Last week, the US Embassy in Tokyo issued a dengue advisory for US citizens and urged Americans staying in Japan to take precautions to prevent the mosquito borne virus.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel notice for Japan due to the dengue outbreak.
Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. This disease was once called called “break-bone fever” because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain that feels like bones are breaking.
Dengue fever of multiple types is found in most countries of the tropics and subtropics particularly during and after rainy season.
There are four types of dengue virus: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4.
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 (DHS) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
