Development & Aid, Environment, Tierramerica

Dengue

Jul 21 2002 (IPS) - Dengue has become a health problem for tropical areas of Latin America over the last several decades. But this disease, cause by four types of virus transmitted by a mosquito, has been known for centuries.

The viruses — with the scientific labels DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4 — can cause different manifestations of dengue, the most serious form being hemorrhagic dengue, which can be mortal.

The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) has deployed intense operations to aid countries in their battles against the epidemic. On the Internet is a website that serves as the PAHO's center of operations, providing information about the traits of the disease and its presence in the region.

According to the history of dengue in the Americas included on the PAHO site, the disease is believed to have first appeared in 1635 on Martinique and Guadalupe. In the 18th century, dengue epidemics were recorded in the United States, Asia and Africa, and later in Peru.

The resurgence of dengue in recent times, which has hit Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil, and more recently El Salvador and Honduras, is directly related to the proliferation of the virus's vector of transmission, the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

This mosquito species is at home in the urban environment and its presence is reinforced by phenomena like the growth of metropolitan areas and the deterioration of sanitary conditions. The campaigns against dengue are focused on eradication of the Aedes aegypti.

According to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), the scope of dengue infection has risen dramatically in recent decades and is now an endemic disease in more than 100 countries, endangering some 2.5 billion people.

The Internet holds abundant information about dengue, such as websites with frequently asked questions, explanations about symptoms and treatment, and even lists of health experts dedicated to combating the disease.