Dengue

Scientists crack dengue fever puzzle

Experts may have solved the mystery of why dengue fever, unlike other infections, is usually more severe the second time around. Dengue is a debilitating, sometimes fatal illness endemic to much of the tropics. Caused by a virus, it is characterized by high fever, bone and muscle pain and -- in the most serious cases -- hemorrhage and fatal shock. Dengue is also unusual in that //symptoms a...

Dengue Outbreak in Kolkata, Four Dead

Dengue has claimed four lives in a week in Kolkata, not even sparing the city's upscale neighbourhoods. West Bengal health Chief Prabhakar Chatterjee has admitted that the fever that swept through some areas of south Kolkata is // dengue or brain fever. There have been reports of 4 casualties and blood tests have revealed the presence of dengue in eight other people. The unofficial dea...

Dengue in Delhi – 26 Cases reported and 3 dea

Delhi, Aug 26 Dengue after affecting Calcutta has arrived in Delhi and three deaths have been reported with 26 people affected in the last two weeks. // In 2003 there were more than 30 people who died and around 1,000 cases of dengue were reported. N.K. Yadav, deputy health officer, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), claims that the situation is under control. They have...

Dengue fever in Delhi after the Monsoon

N.Delhi is affected by the dengue fever that can sometime be deadly and this is due to the breeding mosquitoes after the monsoon. Dengue fever is a benign acute febrile syndrome occurring in tropical regions, // which is the most important mosquito (Aedes aegypti), transmitted viral disease. The virus causes Dengue shock syndrome in 20-30% of infected cases. There are four types (know...

Dengue Claims 15 Lives In West Bengal

Dengue, the mosquito-transmitted lethal disease that has claimed 15 lives and afflicted 1,000 people in West Bengal so far, has been declared an epidemic by the state government.// State Health Director Prabhakar Chatterjee Tuesday told IANS:...

Dengue Epidemic in West Bengal: Over 1000 New Cases and 15 dead

Kolkata (6th Sept 2005): In an alarming announcement the Health Minister of West Bengal Mr.Surya Kanta Mishra officially declared that West Bengal was facing a Dengue epidemic and the numbers of cases detected were increasing in comparison to last year.// Mishra also said that other than dengue, malaria, typhoid, viral fever and encephalitis were also afflicting the people, especial...

45 People die in West Bengal due to Dengue and suspected Japanese Encephalitis

After declaration of dengue fever as an epidemic in West Bengal by Chief Minister Buddhabeb Bhattacharya last week. Both Dengue and suspected Japanese Encephalitis has caused 45 deaths and has hospitalized more than 2000 people // in West Bengal. The confirmed death due to dengue is claimed to be at 20 in West Bengal and 25 cases of death is suspected to be caused by Japanese encephalitis. Japan...

Vaccine For Dengue Fever On Trial In Asia-Pacific

A dengue fever vaccine full of promise is being tried in the Asia Pacific region, says drug giant GlaxoSmithKline.Earlier trials of the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine //have been completed in the US and further testing on a few hundred Thai volunteers should be finished by the end of next year, Dr. Hans L. Bock told the Straits Times. "We have a strong interest in making the vaccine availab...

Dengue Fever Claims Five Lives In Pakistan

As many as 5 people have lost their lives in Pakistan due to the outbreak of dengue, more familiarly known as the Congo fever.// Another 40 people are reported to have been infected by the disease. 'Five patients suspected of having contracted Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) are dead, including a lady doctor, while 40 others are infected and are under observation in hospitals,' a...

Fear Of Dengue Epidemic Looms Large: Fever Kills Five in Pakistan

Even as the Pakistani government struggles to prevent dengue from taking on epidemic proportions, health officials in Pakistan have confirmed that the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) // has killed at least 5 people, including a woman doctor, and infected around 45 people in the country's biggest city of Karachi. Dengue, commonly known as Congo fever, is spread through the bite...

Delhi Launches Special Drive to Check Dengue Spread

Sounding a dengue alert in the capital, the MCD today said there was a rise in the breeding of mosquitoes responsible for the disease even as it launched //a special drive to check breeding of the vector. A high index of dengue vector mosquito breeding, responsible for the spread of the dreaded fever, has been reported from various parts of the city especially in desert coolers, the C...

MCD Takes Steps To Prevent, Control Dengue

In the wake of detection of the dengue spreading Aedes mosquito in some localities of the capital, the MCD at a high-level meeting today discussed steps to be taken for prevention and control of the disease. // Chaired by MCD Standing Committee Chairman Jaikishan Sharma, the meeting decided on various steps, including creating awareness among public to take measures to prevent breedin...

Dengue In City: KMC To Appoint 30 Contract Doctors

With dengue, viral fever and malarial attacks reported in the city areas, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation today decided to appoint 30 doctors on contract and engage para-medical staff to attend to the afflicted//. KMC's Mayor-in-Council (Health) Subodh De said that only dengue cases were reported in south Kolkata and civic staff had fanned out for surveillance in the affected areas....

Dengue Claims its First Victim in Kolkata

Fears of a dengue outbreak in Kolkata have come true with the first death from the mosquito-borne disease reported from a southern //neighbourhood. A youth from south Kolkata's Regent Park died Sunday night from the disease at the Nilratan Medical College and Hospital, news reports said Monday. The victim's family has alleged that he died due to negligence by the hospital...

Petition On Recurrence Of Dengue And Malaria In Kolkata

A writ petition was today moved before the Calcutta High Court claiming that the failure of West Bengal government and Kolkata Municipal Corporation to implement// the court's directives in keeping the metropolis clean had led to the recurrence of dengue and malaria. One person has died and several others are suffering from dengue with the disease resurfacing a few weeks ago in the c...

Suspected Dengue Case Reported in Kalyan Area of Thane

Municipal authorities are taking due precaution following reports of suspected dengue fever in Kalyan town, in the nearby Thane district, with the blood sample// of the affected being sent for investigations. "Chandrakant Patil a resident of Kalyan has shown symptoms of Dengue fever and we have sent his blood samples for further investigation and are awaiting the reports," KDMC run Mun...

Waxing And Waning Of Dengue Epidemics Attributed To Cross-Immunity

Researchers at the University of Georgia have suggested that cross-immunity created in response to infection by one serotype or viral strain protect against infection //by related serotypes thus leading to the waxing and waning of the Dengue epidemics. This finding would help understand the pattern of this deadly mosquito-borne illness better. "We found that since about the mid 1980...

The Dengue Virus Unplugged

The manner of transmission of mosquito-borne viruses is well known; a bite on the body that allows the virus to make an entry into the blood stream. But what happens next that causes the virus //to multiply and take hold of its victim. Researchers led by a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) international scholar in Argentina have been able to point at a genetic element which helps the dengue...

‘Search and Destroy’ operation against dengue mosquitoes in Philippins

The Philippine health department on September 10, sent a warning against dengue fever in the midst of an outbreak in many areas in and around the capital//. From this year’s January 1 to August 29, 167 deaths and 13,468 cases of dengue have been reported, said the department. In order to control the outbreak, the health department is working in collaboration with the local o...

Dengue Cases on the Rise in Rajasthan

More and more cases of dengue are being reported from Rajasthan, officials say. According to the health department, this month the city hospitals are treating// 20 patients with symptoms of dengue. Last month the number was 15. Doctors say the maximum number of cases have been reported from Dholpur, Karauli and Sawai Madhopur districts. With dengue spreading its tentacle...

Dengue takes 5 Victims in Bataan, Rizal and Marikina

Dengue has claimed five more victims in Bataan, Rizal and Marikina City as of Thursday. // A six-year-old child from Valenzuela City and a four-and-a-half child from Balanga, Bataan were among its victimsAccording to Dr. Ricardo Lustre, administrator of the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center the Valenzuela child was at “critical stage 4,” and died 10 hours after being taken there for treat...

Uttar Pradesh Dengue Figure Rises to 435

The dengue virus continued its spread across Uttar Pradesh with 44 new cases, taking the total to 435, while the chikungunya viral disease started showing up// in many areas Monday. Though the death toll from dengue stands at 11, the state recorded 44 new cases since Saturday. The spread of the disease has been confirmed in 36 districts. Chikungunya is on the rise with 16 o...

Dengue Cases in West Bengal Reaches 400 Mark

Dengue has affected 400 people so far in West Bengal, though apparently the severity of the mosquito-borne viral disease is less than last year//. West Bengal Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb said Monday at least 400 dengue cases were reported so far, while two cases of chikungunya were confirmed. Though the official death toll was said to be one, unofficial sources said more...

Dengue cases in Karachi on the rise

According to news reports, hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city have been put on high alert of mosquito-borne dengue fever as it claimed at least 16 lives//. According to the officials of the health department of the southern Sindh province, on Sunday, 3 more cases of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) were confirmed. The data for the last few months reveal 371 confirmed cases of VH...

Mounting Pressure of Dengue in Delhi Hospitals

Many hospitals in Delhi appear to be crumbling under the mounting pressure of dengue. Safdarjung Hospital reported a severe shortage of blood platelets// with several patients being referred to AIIMS and the Red Cross. The situation has reached a stage wherein many patients are given platelets only on the condition of their relatives or friends willing to donate blood in exchange for the required...

Dengue Claims 13 Lives In Malaysia This Month

Dengue fever has claimed 13 lives in barely one month in Malaysia this year, a senior health official said Wednesday//. Deputy Health Director-General Ramlee Rahma said five more dengue fever deaths were reported in Selangor state in the third week of this year, bringing the total death toll to 13 nationwide. In the third week this January, Malaysia has reported 1,423 suspecte...

Spurt in Malaria, Dengue Cases in Rajasthan

Rajasthan is reporting a spurt in malaria and dengue cases with a large number of people being treated in hospitals in this city and other areas//. Over 200 malaria cases were identified in the government owned SMS Hospital here while 190 people are said to be suffering from dengue at present. On Monday alone, 11 new cases of malaria and nine dengue cases were reported in...

Rise of Dengue Cases in Delhi Alarming

The national capital has recorded 327 cases of dengue fever this year so far, which is double the number reported in 2005. // According to health authorities here, two more people have died in the city earlier this week taking the total toll to nine. Out of the 327 cases reported, 127 cases were reported last week only but what is alarming authorities is that the next two...

AIIMS Student Dies of Dengue Fever

A seventh semester student of the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here died Saturday of dengue even as authorities // said measures were being taken to control spread of the deadly fever in the campus. Kamal Raj Kiran was admitted in a special ward of AIIMS after he had tested positive for dengue Thursday. His condition deteriorated and he was operated upon Frid...

Dengue Outbreak in the Capital is not an Epidemic: Government

The deadly dengue viral enveloped 40 more people in the Indian capital Tuesday, taking the total cases to over 500, but the authorities// stated that the situation did not warrant declaring it an epidemic. "We will do our best to curb this menace. Our hospitals are well equipped to deal with the situation, hence there is no need to declare dengue as epidemic," said Health Minister Yoga...

Rajasthan Government Provides Free Dengue Tests for Patients

The Rajasthan government has decided to provide free tests to patients suspected to be suffering from the dengue fever to check against the spread of the disease.// "We have taken a decision to provide free tests for patients suspected to be suffering from dengue in our hospitals," Rajasthan's Health Minister Digambar Singh told a press briefing here Tuesday. The decision i...

AIIMS Postpones Semester Exam due to Dengue Outbreak

With more than 55 dengue patients admitted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), including 18 from the campus itself, the premier hospital// has postponed its medical students' semester examination scheduled for later this month. Most of the students have vacated their hostel rooms after a seventh semester student died on Saturday. The 18 affected by the mosquito-born...

India registers 3,000 dengue patients, toll crosses 40

The mosquito-borne dengue disease continued to take its toll across India Thursday with over 40 people reported dead and nearly 3,000 suffering// from it even as the government maintained the situation did not merit an epidemic status. Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said: "The situation is not that of an epidemic and we expect that the number of dengue cases will see a decreasing tr...

Delhi High Court Blames Government 'Inaction' on Dengue Outbreak

The Delhi High Court has made no bones about the government's lackluster response to the dengue outbreak in the capital. The Central Government and the MCD have been// ordered to file an affidavit within 7 days regarding this issue. The National Dengue Action plan was provided Rs 11372 cr to take appropriate measures to prevent the dengue outbreak, but still nothing concrete seems to...

Dengue Death Toll Raises to Six in UP

With two children succumbing to dengue, the death toll from the mosquito-borne virus has risen to six in Uttar Pradesh.// 'A six-year-old child from Sitapur district died of the disease in the paediatric ward of King George's Medical University on Friday, while another child died in the Farrukhabad district hospital,' V.S. Nigam, health department spokesman told IANS here Saturday. <b...

First confirmed Dengue death in Andhra Pradesh

The health officials reported on Sunday the first death caused by dengue fever in Andhra Pradesh. Several other cases are being reported// from different parts of the state. Venkateswara Rao, director (medical and health) confirmed the death of the person from Puttaparthi in Anantapur district. Two cases in Hyderabad, one in Khammam and one in Srikakulam districts are confirmed dengue c...

Migrant Bihar Labourers Bring Dengue Home

Migrant Bihari labourers coming home for the festive season comprise most of the dengue cases in Bihar, where 12 people have been afflicted with the mosquito-borne virus so far.// State health officials say this could heighten the threat of dengue in the state. Most of the suspected dengue cases reported are of migrant labourers who arrived from dengue-hit places like Delh...

56 New Dengue Cases; Delhi Govt. to Review Situation

More people reported sick with the dengue virus Monday with 56 fresh cases being admitted to city hospitals, taking the total number to 941, and the Delhi government called an// urgent meeting to review the situation. Of the 56 new cases, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) reported 41, taking the total number of patients there to 173. Of the 941 infected w...

US Firm Launches Early Dengue Detection Kit in India

A new test kit that can diagnose dengue fever in early stage was launched in India Monday by the California-headquartered// Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc, a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research products and clinical diagnostics. Called the PLATELIA(tm) DENGUE NS1 Ag Assay, the kit helps to diagnose dengue on the first day of symptoms, the company said in a sta...

Fear of Dengue looms large in China, as Mosquitoes Make Most of Sunshine!

China is susceptible to an outbreak of dengue, also known as bone-breaker's disease, with the average temperature of 28 degrees being conducive for the mosquitoes to breed//. China's Health Ministry has alerted the public about dengue fever, which is a lethal mosquito borne disease that could turn fatal as some strains can spark off internal bleeding and death. The ministry's spokesman...