Dengue fever outbreak in Sudan’s Red Sea State

19/06/2014 10:46

As of Tuesday, a total of 738 dengue fever cases, with six fatalities, have been reported in Red Sea State. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 57 new suspected dengue fever cases were reported on Monday and Tuesday: 36 cases in Port Sudan locality and 21 in Tokar locality. The Federal Ministry of Health, the State Ministry of Health, and the WHO have been implementing control measures to reduce the risk of sustained transmission, and to minimise the impact on the affected population, the UN Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan reports in its latest weekly bulletin. Several activities have been taking place over the last weeks including strengthening of the surveillance system, vector control activities, improving case management and diagnosis through various training activities. In addition, a joint action plan has been endorsed including vector control and health promotion activities in all affected localities with support from the Italian Cooperation, WHO, Unicef, Sudanese Red Crescent Society, as well as community-based organisation volunteers, OCHA stated. Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. Symptoms, which appear from 3-14 days after infection, range from mild fever to incapacitating high fever with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, bleeding manifestations, muscle and joint pains, as well as rash. Since 2003, the Red Sea State has been hit by dengue fever. The worst outbreak so far was in 2010, with 4,008 cases and 12 deaths. Nevertheless, the disease was not immediately recognised this year. Sudanese activists informed Radio Dabanga from Red Sea State on 13 June about a fast spreading hemorrhagic fever, and on 16 June, Radio Dabanga reported that sources suspected an outbreak of the deadly Corona virus. File photo: Aedes mosquito (chemistry.basf.com) Related: MERS virus suspected in Port Sudan (16 June 2014) ‘Hemorrhagic fever spreads in Red Sea’: Sudanese activists (13 June 2014)

As of Tuesday, a total of 738 dengue fever cases, with six fatalities, have been reported in Red Sea State.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 57 new suspected dengue fever cases were reported on Monday and Tuesday: 36 cases in Port Sudan locality and 21 in Tokar locality.

The Federal Ministry of Health, the State Ministry of Health, and the WHO have been implementing control measures to reduce the risk of sustained transmission, and to minimise the impact on the affected population, the UN Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan reports in its latest weekly bulletin.

Several activities have been taking place over the last weeks including strengthening of the surveillance system, vector control activities, improving case management and diagnosis through various training activities. In addition, a joint action plan has been endorsed including vector control and health promotion activities in all affected localities with support from the Italian Cooperation, WHO, Unicef, Sudanese Red Crescent Society, as well as community-based organisation volunteers, OCHA stated.

Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. Symptoms, which appear from 3-14 days after infection, range from mild fever to incapacitating high fever with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, bleeding manifestations, muscle and joint pains, as well as rash.

Since 2003, the Red Sea State has been hit by dengue fever. The worst outbreak so far was in 2010, with 4,008 cases and 12 deaths. Nevertheless, the disease was not immediately recognised this year. Sudanese activists informed Radio Dabanga from Red Sea State on 13 June about a fast spreading hemorrhagic fever, and on 16 June, Radio Dabanga reported that sources suspected an outbreak of the deadly Corona virus.

File photo: Aedes mosquito (chemistry.basf.com)

Related:

MERS virus suspected in Port Sudan (16 June 2014)

‘Hemorrhagic fever spreads in Red Sea’: Sudanese activists (13 June 2014)