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Dengue Fever to Become Serious Threat to Africa, US, Southern Europe This Decade: WHO
Dengue Fever to Become Serious Threat to Africa, US, Southern Europe This Decade: WHO
Sputnik Africa
In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported of at least 4.2 million cases of dengue infection worldwide. This figure is eight times higher than it... 06.10.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-10-06T17:37+0200
2023-10-06T17:37+0200
2023-10-10T13:25+0200
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New parts of Africa, the southern United States and the Southern Europe are under threat from the spread of dengue fever, the chief scientist of the WHO said, adding that warmer temperatures are favorable for the mosquitoes carrying the infection. In addition, the expert stressed that there is high likelihood of the disease becoming endemic in these regions, noting that in many countries, hospitals could experience severe strain due to this.According to the media, for most people, dengue fever is asymptomatic. However, some individuals have severe muscle and joint spasms called "break-bone fever," the mortality rate from this disease is less than 1%. The dengue is carried by infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which bite people more frequently indoors and during the day. As for other illnesses that are spread in Africa, in 2019-2020, there was a particularly noticeable increase in Ebola, mpox (monkeypox), dengue fever, anthrax, plague and other diseases that cause blood loss from damaged vessels, the UN reported.Here are other diseases that the African population suffer from:EbolaSpeaking about Ebola, the WHO said that the most severe of all the outbreaks of the disease took place in 2014-2016 in West Africa. The epidemic started in Guinea and affected countries such as а Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal and Mali. This epidemic resulted in about 11,000 deaths Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, a specialized agency of the African Union African Risk Capacity (ARC) revealed.The fatality rate of the disease is around 50%. People could get the illness from wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines and non-human primates), then it is transmitted to other people through direct contact with bodily fluids or with surfaces, for instance, clothing.MpoxThere was a considerable increase in cases of mpox (monkeypox) since April 2022 in comparison with 2021, the WHO African region revealed. Such countries as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Nigeria suffered the most.According to the WHO data, from 1 January to 8 July 2022, over 2,000 monkeypox cases were reported, of which only 203 were confirmed. The overall case fatality rate for the 203 confirmed cases was 2.4%.Bacterial MeningitisIn 2009-2010, West Africa suffered from the epidemic of bacterial meningitis, which occurred on the territory of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund stated.This bacteriological disease causes inflammation of the meninges, the protective membrane of the brain and spinal cord. Epidemic outbreaks of it occur in 8-15 year cycles, with an average morbidity of 1,000 cases per 100,000 population, the ARC noted.Lassa FeverAround three million people annually in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria fall sick with the lassa fever, the ARC reported, noting that over 59 million are at risk. The fatality rate of the illness is less than 1%, the agency stated.The latest outbreaks happened in Nigeria and Liberia in 2018, according to ARC.Marburg VirusIn February, the WHO said that cases of Marburg disease were registered in Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania. WHO's Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the connection between the climate change and the outbreaks of the illness.Marburg virus is a hemorrhagic fever virus with a mortality rate of about 50% that can cause the organs of the body to shut down.Yellow FeverAccording to the WHO, in 2022, at least 12 African countries experienced the outbreaks of yellow fever, which is endemic to the continent and transmitted to humans by the bites of infected mosquitoes. Among the countries, where cases of disease were reported, are Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria and others.MalariaMalaria is also among the deadly diseases spread on the continent. Four African countries - Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Niger - accounted for more than half of all malaria deaths worldwide, which is about 619,000 people globally per year, the WHO noted in 2021.ChikungunyaAnother disease that is carried by mosquitoes is Chikungunya. The most severe outbreak so far was in 2018 in Sudan with almost 14,000 cases, the ARC said. Since 2019, Congo struggles with the illness, over 6,000 cases have been registered, the agency revealed.There is no special treatment for the disease, nor a commercial vaccine. The disease is only cured by relieving symptoms, according to ARC.CholeraIn addition, the UN agency said that in the first seven months of 2023, there have been at least 31,342 suspected or confirmed cholera cases and 230 deaths throughout the DRC.As for the most serious outbreaks of the disease, the ARC reported that one of those took place in 2009-2010 in Zimbabwe, where over 4,000 people died, and in Nigeria with over 1,000 fatal cases. The recent outbreak that resulted in over 500 deaths occurred in Cameroon in 2018, the agency said.
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New parts of Africa, the southern United States and the Southern Europe are under threat from the spread of dengue fever, the chief scientist of the WHO said, adding that warmer temperatures are favorable for the mosquitoes carrying the infection.
"We need to talk much more proactively about dengue. We need to really prepare countries for how they will deal with the additional pressure that will come… in the future in many, many big cities," an infectious diseases specialist of the WHO Jeremy Farrar was quoted by media as saying.
In addition, the expert stressed that there is high likelihood of the disease becoming endemic in these regions, noting that in many countries,
hospitals could experience severe strain due to this.
"The clinical care is really intensive, it requires a high ratio of nurses to patients, I really worry when this becomes a big issue in sub-Saharan Africa," he highlighted.
According to the media, for most people, dengue fever is asymptomatic. However, some individuals have severe muscle and joint spasms called "break-bone fever," the mortality rate from this disease is less than 1%. The dengue is carried by infected Aedes aegypti
mosquitoes, which bite people more frequently indoors and during the day.
As for other illnesses that are spread in Africa, in 2019-2020, there was a particularly noticeable increase in
Ebola, mpox (monkeypox), dengue fever, anthrax, plague and other diseases that cause blood loss from damaged vessels, the UN reported.
Here are other diseases that the African population suffer from:
Speaking about Ebola, the
WHO said that the most severe of all the outbreaks of the disease took place in 2014-2016 in West Africa. The epidemic started in Guinea and affected countries such as а Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal and Mali.
This epidemic resulted in about 11,000 deaths Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, a specialized agency of the African Union African Risk Capacity (ARC) revealed.
The fatality rate of the disease is around 50%. People could get the illness from wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines and non-human primates), then it is transmitted to other people through direct contact with bodily fluids or with surfaces, for instance, clothing.
There was a considerable increase in cases of mpox (monkeypox) since April 2022 in comparison with 2021, the WHO African region revealed. Such countries as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Nigeria suffered the most.
According to the WHO data, from 1 January to 8 July 2022, over 2,000 monkeypox cases were reported, of which only 203 were confirmed. The overall case fatality rate for the 203 confirmed cases was 2.4%.
In 2009-2010, West Africa suffered from the epidemic of bacterial meningitis, which occurred on the territory of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund stated.
This bacteriological disease causes inflammation of the meninges, the protective membrane of the brain and spinal cord. Epidemic outbreaks of it occur in 8-15 year cycles, with an average morbidity of 1,000 cases per 100,000 population, the ARC noted.
Around three million people annually in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria fall sick with the lassa fever, the ARC reported, noting that over 59 million are at risk. The fatality rate of the illness is less than 1%, the agency stated.
The latest outbreaks happened in Nigeria and Liberia in 2018, according to ARC.
In February, the WHO said that cases of Marburg disease were registered in Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania.
WHO's Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the connection between the climate change and the outbreaks of the illness.
"The outbreaks of Marburg virus disease are another reminder that we can only truly protect human health if we also protect the health of animals and our planet, which sustains all life," he noted.
Marburg virus is a hemorrhagic fever virus with a mortality rate of about 50% that can cause the organs of the body to shut down.
According to the WHO, in 2022, at least 12 African countries experienced the outbreaks of yellow fever, which is endemic to the continent and transmitted to humans by the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Among the countries, where cases of disease were reported, are Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria and others.
Malaria is also among the deadly diseases spread on the continent. Four African countries - Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Niger - accounted for more than half of all malaria deaths worldwide, which is about 619,000 people globally per year, the WHO noted in 2021.
Another disease that is carried by mosquitoes is Chikungunya. The most severe outbreak so far was in 2018 in Sudan with almost 14,000 cases, the ARC said. Since 2019, Congo struggles with the illness, over 6,000 cases have been registered, the agency revealed.
There is no special treatment for the disease, nor a commercial vaccine. The disease is only cured by relieving symptoms, according to ARC.
In addition, the UN agency said that in the first seven months of 2023, there have been at least 31,342 suspected or confirmed
cholera cases and 230 deaths throughout the DRC.
As for the most serious outbreaks of the disease, the ARC reported that one of those took place in 2009-2010 in Zimbabwe, where over 4,000 people died, and in Nigeria with over 1,000 fatal cases. The recent outbreak that resulted in over 500 deaths occurred in Cameroon in 2018, the agency said.
