Dengue serotype-3 detected in Nepal, know the risks

KATHMANDU, Oct 21: Dengue serotype-3 has been detected in Nepal. 

According to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, tests conducted at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences confirmed dengue serotype-3 in Nepal.

Of the 12 samples taken for the tests, seven samples tested positive for dengue serotype-1 while five tested positive for dengue serotype-3.

In order to get a bigger picture of the situation, the division is collecting 250 samples from all the seven provinces to conduct tests. 

So far, more than 40,000 people have contracted dengue while nearly 50 have succumbed to the disease.

Dengue fever, a usually mild albeit debilitating viral fever (breakbone fever), is prevalent throughout the tropics, where the urban-dwelling mosquito Aedes aegypti is a major vector. A related mosquito, Aedes albopictus, also can act as a vector. The dengue viruses, of which four serotypes are known (DV-1, -2, -3, and -4), are the most widespread arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). They also are the only known arboviruses that have fully adapted to the human host and lost the need of an enzootic cycle for maintenance.

Risk

According to the World Health Organization, Infection with one strain will provide life-time protection against that particular strain, but not the other 3 strains. If anyone is to be re-infected with the disease, it is expected to be more severe than earlier infection. 

According to a journal published in Nature Journal, after recovering from an infection with one dengue serotype, a person has immunity against that particular serotype. Does infection with one serotype protect against future dengue infections with the other serotypes? Individuals are protected from infections with the remaining three serotypes for two to three months after the first dengue infection. Unfortunately, it is not long-term protection. After that short period, a person can be infected with any of the remaining three dengue serotypes. Researchers have noticed that subsequent infections can put individuals at a greater risk for severe dengue illnesses than those who have not been previously infected.

Dengue causes flu-like symptoms that last for 2-7 days, including high fever (40°C/ 104°F) and headaches, pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, joint, bone or muscle pains, and/or rash.

There is no vaccine or any specific medicine to treat dengue. However, anyone with symptoms of dengue should seek medical care, and when warning signs of severe dengue are present (listed above), it is imperative to seek medical care to manage the disease. With early recognition and proper supportive medical care, case-fatality rates are below 1%.