Transmitted by mosquitoes, dengue fever is found in the tropics and throughout Africa but it is South America that has seen the most dramatic epidemics in recent years. Because an eradication programme that was started in the Americas was abandoned in the 1970s, more resistant strains of the mosquitoes that spread the disease have flourished.
Epidemics occurred in North America, Asia and Africa simultaneously in the late 18th century. In the 1950s the disease reached pandemic proportions in Asia and following the 1980s has become a common problem throughout the developing world. Occasionally, travelers have been wrongly diagnosed and have carried the disease back to their own countries.
Despite there being no commercially available vaccine against dengue as yet, several vaccine development programmes are working towards finding an affordable and effective treatment for poor children in developing countries.
How serious: dengue fever tends to pass after five or six days and the disease is usually self limited. Rarely, patients develop leaky capillaries or dengue shock syndrome which leads them to faint due to low blood pressure. Fatality is extremely rare.
How likely: it is quite easy to contract dengue as it occurs in places where people like to holiday and there is no vaccine against it. However, there are safeguards that can be taken to minimize the risk.
How to get it: people contract dengue by being bitten by an infected Aedes mosquito or by exchanging blood with another dengue sufferer while that person is still feverish. Aedes mosquitoes feed during daylight hours.
Where it is found: dengue is frequently found in urban areas of tropical countries including countries across the Indian subcontinent, South East Asia, South America and parts of Africa.
Symptoms: severe muscle and joint pains and headaches come on suddenly accompanied by a fever and bright red rash that often first appears on the chest. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
How to avoid it: prevent mosquito bites by wearing clothing that covers the skin, sleep with a mosquito net and use protection against mosquitoes such as creams, lotions and incense.
How to treat it: medical attention is required and patients may well be treated with intravenous fluids to combat dehydration. Occasionally, a blood transfusion is indicated.
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