Dengue patrol smkdmpr2 - A speech by Tn Hj Yusuf - health officer from health department Tanah Merah

Nowadays many people suffer from dengue. Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any four related dengue viruses. This disease used to be called break-bone fever because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain. Dengue fever is a quite dangerous febril(Feverish) disease Dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which also transmits diseases as yellow fever.

The symptoms of dengue fever are severe headache, pain in the muscles and joints, and rash that can be described as small red spots. Some patients experience gastritis, diarrhea,vomiting and abdominal pain. Dengue fever usually starts suddenly with a high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in the muscles and joints. A rash usually appears 3 to 4 days after the start of the fever. Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite are common.

Each type of the dengue virus is re-emerging worldwide, especially in the western hemisphere. Researches have shown that several factors are contributing to the resurgence dengue fever such as uncontrolled urbanization, increased international travel, substandard socio-economic conditions, and finally global warming. Global warming has shown to be a major contributor to the spread of dengue fever. Global warming can cause dry spells in some countries and increased rainfall and humidity in others. The dry spells reduce small medium bodies of water like springs and ponds to small puddles

that become potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. Likewise increased rainfall and humidity also leads to collection of water that affords possible

Breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Dengue is spread by the Aedes Aegypti, a domestic, day-biting mosquito that prefers to bite humans. They breed in clean water. Currently there is no vaccine available to prevent dengue. Scientists are also trying to invent a vaccine against dengue fever, but the researches are only at the stage of experiments yet. The only treatment is rest and intake of plenty of fluids like water, juices, milk etc.