By Andrea Hargraves 
Concerned about the development of mosquitoes, the World Health Organization issued an important warning to Europe on Wednesday for the coming months.
“The high temperatures of summer, the intercontinental travel during the holidays and the global movement of people during the Olympic Games to be held in August in France, are ideal conditions” for the reproduction of the Aedes mosquito, the vector responsible for transmitting dengue fever, “he says in a statement.
“(…) The proportion of people who do not show symptoms can be very high, whether in dengue or other viruses (…) This means that many cases go unnoticed,” he explains. Specialist Karla Souza, from the Institute of Health and Tropical Medicine (IHMT)“Globalization and international travel help spread dengue fever,” he added.
WHO Europe’s recognition of the increasing risk of dengue outbreaks, especially in Southern Europe, and the promotion of health education with the involvement of IHMT experts represent a joint effort to strengthen surveillance and response strategies at European level.Especially important during times of great population movement, as will happen during the Olympic Games to be held from July 26 to August 11 in France.“
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What are the symptoms of dengue fever?
- Fever: The most common symptom that lasts about 2 to 7 days.
- headache;
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Pain around or behind the eyes.
- Vomiting.
- Red spots on the skin.
- bleeding.
According to the site National Health Service (SNS)Symptoms of dengue fever “generally appear 4 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and last for about 7 days. However, one in four people, especially the majority of children, have no symptoms or have a mild fever.
How is the virus transmitted? Through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Dengue fever is not transmitted from person to person, except from mother to child during pregnancy. (Although this route is not common)
Risk factors? The main risk factors for dengue transmission are related to geographical areas that encourage the breeding of mosquitoes that transmit the virus. Therefore, they represent places at risk of infection:
- Tropical or subtropical regions – Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, Western Pacific;
- Urban areas with poor sanitary conditions;
- Places with ponds, pools, or other bodies of stagnant water
What are the complications of infection? Some people may develop more serious complications, such as:
- severe drought
- Hypotension – Low blood pressure.
- Respiratory weakness.
- Severe bleeding with blood loss in the stool, vomit, or gums.
- persistent vomiting
- severe abdominal pain;
- Cirrhosis;
- Acute dysfunction/organ failure.
Chronic patients, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with a history of recent surgery or head trauma are at risk.
Is there any vaccine? Yes. Currently, there is already a vaccine for this disease. It is indicated for use and provides protection against dengue fever in people between the ages of 6 and 45, who have previously been infected with the dengue virus, and is used in endemic areas (where the virus is frequently present).