Although the fact that the dengue virus is considered a global threat for centuries now, scientists still know little about how the virus infects cells and causes diseases. New researches have begun to shed a little light to this medical mystery such as how the virus damages cells and how the immune system in turn responds to this attack. Recently, scientists supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), have been and are still trying various methods on developing vaccines against the deadly disease. There are researches that focus on weakened versions of the dengue virus as potential vaccine candidates not only against dengue but also against other related viruses. Other projects are trying to develop vaccines using DNA, proteins, and viral vectors. Others still focus on preventing mosquitoes from transmitting the dengue virus.

Many of these projects are certainly remarkable and promising and we hope that one day we will be able to benefit from one if not all of these worthy medical pursuits.

Source: NIH

There may be hope for dengue cure after all. Unfortunately, we all still have to wait a few more years � well, until 2012. That�s how long until the vaccine Tetravalent, manufactured by drug company Sanofi will be ready to be submitted for approval.

According to reports of the drug trial conducted in the United States, the vaccine was found to be 100% effective against all four serotypes of the virus that are responsible for the deadly dengue fever. Sanofi plans also to do clinical trials of said vaccine in Asia and Latin America. Now isn�t this good news?

Source: News Medical

I guess it is indeed true that prevention is still the best cure. Especially in the case of dengue fever, as no cure has been found for the actual disease itself. Now, the best way to prevent dengue fever is to avoid contact with mosquitoes. If you are traveling to an area where there are reports of dengue fever cases, it is best to bring mosquito repellent containing DEET. Apply repellant in the morning and in the late afternoon, as dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes usually bite during the day. You can also wear long sleeved-shirts and long pants if the weather permits it.

  

Dengue is usually associated with poorer tropical countries. The disease leads to a sudden onset of fever with severe headaches, muscle and joint pains, as well as rashes. According to the AFP, the mosquito viral called Dengue fever has instantly become a significant public viral outbreak in Thailand, where a recent epidemic resulted in 63,000 cases and 91 deaths nationwide. Health education is crucial to the minimization of the disease. To make sure that people understand the cause of infection and the ways to prevent people from catching the virus is the best step to combat Dengue. Health education for dengue control should be provided in primary schools and community health centers as suggested by the National Dengue Control Program.

During the 1960s, Dengue casualties were reduced significantly with the advent of vaccines and anti-biotic along with deadly viruses such as smallpox, poliomyelitis, and acute rheumatic fever. But Dengue is more than just a seasonal disease, as opposed to the others mentioned above. It is a killer spurned by poverty, social exclusion, health systems, environments, food security, water and sanitation. To win against it, proper education is very important. To truly win against the disease, public health vigilance in terms of modern structures will be needed. This will include disease monitoring, disease prevention, communication, and financial supports are all needed. 

 

There is no detailed or specific action for dengue fever, but close medical awareness and clinical management revives the lives of many patients. At the present time, the only technique of controlling dengue and DHF is to battle the vector mosquito all the way through chemical control and environmental management. Community-based cleaning operations remove tyres, bottles, cans and other objects that catch and keep hold of water, get free of possible breeding sites for vector mosquitoes. Larval surroundings are too treated with insecticide. Insecticidal space sprays, by means of vehicle-mounted or moveable machines, are used in many programmes for urgent situations and to  control the growth of adult mosquitoes.

Since thrombocytopenia and haemoconcentration are indispensable analytical criteria for the verification of cases of DHF/DSS, it is incredibly significant that hospital laboratories are properly prepared to carry out sequential haematocrits and platelet counts, both at slightest daily. It should be respected that when all of the selected medical measures, as well as these two, are not confirmed, suspected cases of DHF/DSS cannot be classified as long-established. It is tremendously significant that relevant information on the epidemiology of dengue fever; the clinical analysis and management of all forms of the disease; and suitable vector control events be conversed to all the pertinent stakeholders in proportion, non-alarming messages which will help public health action, produce neighborhood contribution, etc

People as we know it are responsible for spreading diseases and with recent outbreaks of dengue, swine and avian influenza, a very dangerous trend is being observed, they are taking shorter periods to spread. Swine flu pandemic has seen a very rapid spread of the disease throughout the world from the small town in Mexico where it all began. All these recent viral outbreaks is costing billions in losses due to lost business, absenteeism and the fear of the spreading disease that tends to get people out pf the streets fast. The pandemic status of Swine Flu quickly turned to that of damage control for no means of containment was proving effective for the virus was already out on the population. Swine flu has killed thousands but it underlies the more imminent danger from dengue, a far deadlier disease that has yet to get a vaccine out for the general public. And with recent strains of these viruses showing quick immunity to just released anti-viral drugs the job of researchers in finding cures that work is only getting harder by the day.

Weather has been identified as the main culprit for the spread of the tropical disease dengue fever which used to be restricted to areas in the tropics. Using weather data, one of the most recorded and studied natural phenomenon to predict outbreaks in the future has been seen to be one of the most effective ways to base predictions for as we know, the earth is under the spell of global warming. Like today’s recent weather, the ice caps in the poles are melting and areas that used to be ice-locked are now seeing sub-tropical weather thanks to erratic weather patterns. These weather patterns, though erratic can be predicted and using some of the most-powerful computers to run simulations it may be possible to make accurate predictions on where the disease is more likely to hit next.