New research estimates 390 million people infected with dengue fever annually

The World Health Organization (WHO) says on their recent fact sheet that they currently estimate there may be 50–100 million dengue infections worldwide every year. However,new research published April 7 in the journal, Nature, shows that the occurrence may actually be about four-times higher.

Aedes aegypti Image/CDC

Researchers from the University of Oxford and the Wellcome Trust, using cartographic approaches, estimate there to be 390 million dengue infections per year worlwide.

Fortunately, the majority, nearly 300 million cases are mild, and don’t require medical attention.

The Washington Post reports the WHO said it wasn’t surprised by the higher estimates. “We fully agree the spectrum of dengue is very wide and there was every chance we were missing cases,” said Raman Velayudhan, the agency’s global dengue coordinator. WHO was not involved in the new research.

“These new infection estimates provide novel insights into the global, regional and national public health burden imposed by dengue.

“We anticipate that they will provide a starting point for a wider discussion about the global impact of this disease and will help to guide improvements in disease control strategies using vaccine, drug and vector control methods, and in their economic evaluation”, researchers add.

There are currently no licensed vaccines for the prevention or specific drugs for the treatment of this mosquito borne viral disease.

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Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. This disease used to be called “break-bone fever” because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain that feels like bones are breaking.

In recent years, there have been an increase in the amounts of epidemics in many parts of the world.

There are four types of dengue virus: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4.

People get the dengue virus from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. It is not contagious from person to person.

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There are three types of dengue fever in order of less severe to most: the typical uncomplicated dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHS) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).

The symptoms of classic dengue usually start within a week after being infected. They include very high fever, up to 105°F, severe headache, pain behind the eye, severe joint and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting and a rash.

Symptoms of DHF include all the symptoms of classic dengue plus severe damage to the blood vessels. Bleeding from the nose, gums or under the skin are common. This form of dengue can be fatal.

Symptoms of DSS include all of the above symptoms plus; fluid leaking outside of blood vessels, massive bleeding and shock. This form of the disease usually happens in children experiencing their second infection.

Two-third of all fatalities occurs among children.

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