Zamboanga reports over 450 dengue cases in first two months

The Zamboanga City Health Office (CHO) has reported 463 dengue fever cases in the first two months of 2014, according to a Zamboanga Today report today.

According to official health department data, the city had a total of 291 dengue cases in January, while for February, a total of 172 cases of dengue fever were recorded.

The Coffee via wikimedia commons

This has prompted City Health Officer, Dr. Rodel Agbulos to encourage the public to clean up their properties and communities to eliminate mosquito breeding areas.

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 andmuscle pain that feels like bones are breaking.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there may be 50–100 million dengue infectionsworldwide every year. However, new research from the University of Oxford and the Wellcome Trust, using cartographic approaches, estimate there to be 390 million dengue infections per year worldwide.

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).

There is not a vaccine for dengue fever. There is no treatment for dengue, just treat the symptoms.

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