DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAK-UPDATE-SENEGAL & MAURITANIA

Outbreak Intelligence Situation Report

29 December 2018

Agence de Presse Senegalaise via Health-Senegal is reporting,
Dengue Epidemic Over
  • No new Dengue cases have been reported since 01 December 2018
  • The country has recorded 342 cases since 19 September 2018
  • Dengue precautions are recommended-sleeping under impregnated mosquito nets and destroying mosquito breeding sites

 

The World Health Organization has not provided any Dengue updates for Senegal or Mauritania 
De Faakto Intelligence recommends travelers to Mauritania, Senegal and the Senegal Region practice precautions to prevent mosquito bites and vector borne diseases

What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness and, sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. The incidence of dengue has increased 30-fold over the last 50 years. Up to 50-100 million infections are now estimated to occur annually in over 100 endemic countries, putting almost half of the world’s population at risk. (WHO, 2018)

What are the Symptoms of Dengue Fever?
A person infected by the dengue virus develops severe flu-like symptoms
Individuals should suspect dengue when a high fever (40°C/ 104°F) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms:

  • Severe headache
    Pain behind the eyes
    Nausea, Vomiting
    Swollen glands
    Muscle and joint pains
    Rash
    Symptoms usually last for 2-7 days, after an incubation period of 4-10 days after the bite from an infected mosquito

Severe dengue is a potentially deadly complication due to plasma leaking, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, or organ impairment. The warning signs to look out for occur 3-7 days after the first symptoms in conjunction with a decrease in temperature (below 38°C/ 100°F) include:

  • Severe abdominal pain
    Persistent vomiting
    Rapid breathing
    Bleeding gums
    Blood in vomit
    Fatigue, restlessness
    The next 24-48 hours of the critical stage can be lethal; proper medical care is needed to avoid complications and risk of death (WHO, 2018)

Treatment

  • There is no specific treatment for dengue fever.
  • Patients should seek medical advice, rest and drink plenty of fluids. Paracetamol can be taken to bring down fever and reduce joint pains. However, aspirin or ibuprofen should not be taken since they can increase the risk of bleeding.
  • For severe dengue, medical care by physicians and nurses experienced with the effects and progression of the disease can frequently save lives. Maintenance of the patient’s circulating fluid volume is the central feature of such care. (WHO, 2018)

Prevention and control

  • The only current method of controlling or preventing dengue virus transmission is to effectively combat the vector mosquitoes. (WHO, 2018)

World Health Organization,

http://www.who.int/denguecontrol/human/en/

________________________________________________________________________________________

16 November 2018

From The World Health Organization,

DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAK SENEGAL & MAURITANIA

  • SENEGAL
    SITUATION INTERPRETATION
    The outbreak of dengue fever in Senegal continues, with the disease being confirmed in new districts. The risk of spread of dengue nationally remains high due to
    the presence of the vector, Aedes aegypti, in the country, poor water supply and storage issues and influx of people from the sub-regions for religious ceremonies.
    Although the Grand Magal is now over, the Mauloud is scheduled for the 20-21 November 2018. Strong public health measures have been implemented, and the
    national surveillance system has been improved in all regions, particularly in terms of collection and testing of specimens. However, the significant increase in numbers
    of samples collected may soon put the country’s laboratory services under strain. The presence of three circulating virus strains increases the potential for secondary
    heterotypic infection, which is generally more severe, which may stress clinical services. National and international actors should continue to implement all public health
    measures and bring the outbreak to a close.
  • MAURITANIA
    SITUATION INTERPRETATION
    Mauritania is currently experiencing an outbreak of dengue fever, with the first cases of the disease confirmed in May 2018. Since the occurrence of the first outbreak
    in Nouakchott in 2014, dengue fever cases are being registered annually. Floods due to heavy rains that occurred across the country in the last months as well as
    poor sanitation in the affected areas are thought to have contributed to the proliferation of mosquitoes and the subsequent increase in dengue fever cases. The high
    population movements within and out of the country could potentially increase the risk of spread of the disease to other non-affected regions in Mauritania and
    neighbouring countries. Currently, Senegal is also facing a huge outbreak of dengue fever. Nonetheless, the drier season, usually starting in November, is anticipated
    to curtail the proliferation of mosquitoes and reduce further transmission of the virus. Urgent measures have to be undertaken to bring this outbreak to a speedy end,
    including active surveillance for early detection, reporting and management of cases, risk communication/social mobilization, vector control measures (destruction of
    vector larvae, in-home spraying, waste management, use of insecticide treated materials, active monitoring and surveillance of vectors), etc.

What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness and, sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. The incidence of dengue has increased 30-fold over the last 50 years. Up to 50-100 million infections are now estimated to occur annually in over 100 endemic countries, putting almost half of the world’s population at risk. (WHO, 2018)

What are the Symptoms of Dengue Fever?
A person infected by the dengue virus develops severe flu-like symptoms
Individuals should suspect dengue when a high fever (40°C/ 104°F) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms:

  • Severe headache
    Pain behind the eyes
    Nausea, Vomiting
    Swollen glands
    Muscle and joint pains
    Rash
    Symptoms usually last for 2-7 days, after an incubation period of 4-10 days after the bite from an infected mosquito

Severe dengue is a potentially deadly complication due to plasma leaking, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, or organ impairment. The warning signs to look out for occur 3-7 days after the first symptoms in conjunction with a decrease in temperature (below 38°C/ 100°F) include:

  • Severe abdominal pain
    Persistent vomiting
    Rapid breathing
    Bleeding gums
    Blood in vomit
    Fatigue, restlessness
    The next 24-48 hours of the critical stage can be lethal; proper medical care is needed to avoid complications and risk of death (WHO, 2018)

Treatment

  • There is no specific treatment for dengue fever.
  • Patients should seek medical advice, rest and drink plenty of fluids. Paracetamol can be taken to bring down fever and reduce joint pains. However, aspirin or ibuprofen should not be taken since they can increase the risk of bleeding.
  • For severe dengue, medical care by physicians and nurses experienced with the effects and progression of the disease can frequently save lives. Maintenance of the patient’s circulating fluid volume is the central feature of such care. (WHO, 2018)

Prevention and control

  • The only current method of controlling or preventing dengue virus transmission is to effectively combat the vector mosquitoes. (WHO, 2018)

World Health Organization,

http://www.who.int/denguecontrol/human/en/