Dengue, that infectious disease we all hear about, but don’t really know how to describe. Transmitted by mosquito bites, it is present mainly in tropical regions.
This Tuesday a case was detected in Fayence, in Var. Mosquito control was immediately planned for Thursday or Friday night to prevent the spread of the disease. Another case had been identified in Toulon in July.
• An often mild illness
Dengue virus causes in most cases an asymptomatic disease. “The usual form is manifested by a sudden fever associated with pain and skin rash,” specifies Public Health France.
People with symptoms in their “classic” forms will have a sudden-onset high fever, accompanied by chills, headaches, retrorobitraire pain, nausea, vomiting, or rash. Flu-like symptoms appear three to 14 days after the mosquito bite.
However, some rare cases can lead to serious complications and sometimes death. The severe form of dengue can occur in 1 to 5% of symptomatic cases, according to the WHO.
“It is characterized by increased vascular permeability that can lead to shock and bleeding that can be life-threatening,” warns Public Health France.
• No specific antiviral treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue virus. For infected people who show symptoms, an incubation period of four to seven days is necessary in France.
If there is a vaccine against dengue in the world, the High Health Authority issued two unfavorable opinions on its use in 2018 and 2019. Therefore, prevention is based solely on traditional means of protection against mosquito bites.
• A disease that is spreading in France
If mainland France does not have a tropical climate, the spread of tiger mosquitoes in the territory increases the risk of dengue.
Today, the insect is permanently implanted in 51 metropolitan departments. “In these departments it is possible, therefore, the risk of an autochthonous circulation of dengue after the introduction of the virus by a sick traveler”, emphasizes the Ministry of Health.
“The fight against vector mosquitoes and personal protection (repellant, long and loose clothing, etc.) are the best ways to reduce the risk of epidemics,” he explains.
Like chikungunya and zika, dengue must be declared to limit transmission of the virus.
Source: BFM TV
