IRS ( Dengue Fever ) by KOTTAIMUTHU LAKSHAYA student

News Article ( Source 1 )

kottaimuthu_lak — 2014-02-11 10:11:47 UTC

The dengue fever epidemic in Singapore is on the rise and does not appear to be slowing down. As dengue cases tend to peak from May to July, experts fear that this year’s outbreak could even surpass Singapore’s worst dengue outbreak in 2005 (14,000 people fell ill and 25 died). Although there have been no deaths so far, more than 3,100 have been infected. A quarter of cases have been admitted into hospitals. “Those that contract dengue develop an immunity to the particular strain that infected them. However as the Den-1 strain has stayed low key for several years in Singapore, most do not have immunity to it. Furthermore, with four different strains around, one can easily be infected with a different strain” explains Dr Jenny Low, Senior Consultant at the Department of Infectious Disease, Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

If you suspect that you or a loved one has contracted dengue, visit your GP, rest and drink plenty of fluids. For the safety of others, you should also stay away from places where you are likely to get bitten by mosquitoes (which would then propagate your virus). Go to the hospital only if you suffer from severe stomach pain and persistent vomiting as these are symptoms of more serious dengue haemorrhagic fever. There is no dengue fever vaccine yet in Singapore. However, researchers from the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School (Duke-NUS) have begun clinical trials in July last year. Results will be published later this year.

With no vaccine nor treatment currently available for dengue fever, the best protection against dengue is to help prevent the breeding of the Aedes mosquito. To do so, you need to make it a habit to get rid of stagnant water in and around your home. National Environment Agency (NEA) has developed a quick “10-minute 5-step Mozzie Wipe-out” routine to keep homes free of any Aedes mosquito. The steps are:

Change water in vases/bowls on alternate days
Turn over all water storage containers
Cover bamboo pole holders when not in use
Clear blockages and put BTI insecticide in roof gutters monthly
Remove water from flower pot plates on alternate days

In addition, as the Aedes mosquito only feed during the day, you can apply insect repellent over exposed parts of the body. For added protection, you can also spray insecticide in dark corners of your home such as under the bed and sofa and behind curtains. The NEA and other government agencies have also stepped up dengue prevention efforts nationwide. They are targeting areas where dengue has been circulating, installing Gravitraps to monitor and trap the adult mosquito population, and visiting homes to check for Aedes mosquito breeding spots. When it comes to dengue, for now it appears that prevention is the only cure.

Video Clip ( Source 2 )

kottaimuthu_lak — 2014-02-11 10:24:30 UTC

It tells us how is Dengue Fever. It is a treat to almost half of the worlds population. On how is Dengue fever transmitted, the mosquito releases saliva with dengue virus which infect immune system and tissues and spread throughout the body via the bloodstream. It might cause severe forms of the diseases causing the membrane to be permeable causing it to lose contents via plasma leakage. It will also causes serious problems for any walk of age, especially children. It is transmitted from a infected person to a regular person.

Journal Article ( Source 4 )

kottaimuthu_lak — 2014-02-11 10:40:41 UTC

Dengue has been recognized as one of the most important vector-borne emerging infectious diseases globally. Though dengue normally causes a self-limiting infection, some patients may develop a life-threatening illness, DHF/ DSS. The reason why DHF/DSS occurs in certain individuals is unclear. Studies in the endemic regions suggest that the preexisting antibodies are a risk factor for DHF/DSS. The amounts of virus circulating in patients are highly correlated with severe dengue disease, DHF/DSS. Also, the disturbance, mainly a transient depression, of hematological cells is a critical clinical finding in acute dengue patients. However, the cells responsible for the dengue viremia are unresolved in spite of the intensive efforts been made. Dengue virus appears to replicate and proliferate in many adapted cell lines, but these in vitro properties are extremely difficult to be reproduced in primary cells or in vivo. Originally, dengue virus infections occurred mainly as epidemics in tropical and subtropical countries. But over time, with increasing globalization and the geographic spread of inhabitants Aedes mosquitoes, the dominant vectors for dengue virus transmission, dengue virus infection has steadily penetrated every corner of the world. Dengue virus has four serotypes, and each of them can cause a spectrum of diseases ranging from mild Dengue Fever to a life-threatening illness, dengue hemorrhagic fever DHF/ DSS. Approximately 50 to 100 million people contract dengue fever annually, and about 200,000 to 500,000 of these are DHF/DSS, which has a mortality rate about 1%–5%, mainly in children under 15 years of age.

Photograph ( Source 3 )

kottaimuthu_lak — 2014-02-11 10:53:34 UTC

It has black and white stripe markings on their body and legs. It has a red body.

kottaimuthu_lak — 2014-02-11 10:58:19 UTC

kottaimuthu_lak — 2014-02-12 11:35:28 UTC

The update of Singapore Dengue Cases

Book Summary ( Source 5)

kottaimuthu_lak — 2014-02-12 11:36:28 UTC

Human Diseases and Conditions Supplement 2: Infectious Diseases

Summary:

Dengue

It is characterised by a sudden high fever and severe pain in the mucles, joints and bones. It's It more likely cause serious problem for children and some cases are fatal. It is widespread and about 20 million cases develop annually and the number of cases are increasing. It is not spread directly from person to person but instead from the bite of the female Aedes mosquito.

Symtoms of Dengue fever:

High fever, flushed (reddish face), muscle, joint, or bone pain, severe headache, a rash, pain behind eyes and small signs of small haemorrhages such as bleeding gums or nosebleed are the symptoms. The fever lasts 2 to 7 days and the others will usually fade as well. Some symptoms may linger for a few weeks.

Preventing Dengue fever

Since currently there are no vaccine for dengue, the only way to prevent it is to reduce the mosquito population by removing stagnant water, applying insect repellent, wearing clothes that cover most of the body and etc.

Advertisment in Singapore (Source 6)

kottaimuthu_lak — 2014-02-12 12:32:50 UTC

The common advertisement in Singapore shows that fighting against dengue is every person's responsibility. It shows the ways to fight against dengue as well.

kottaimuthu_lak — 2014-02-19 10:33:13 UTC