New Warning System can Predict Dengue Outbreaks Weeks in Advance

A Swedish researcher has developed a new warning system which she claims will be able to predict the outbreak of dengue fever up to 16 weeks in advance.

A Swedish researcher has developed a new warning system which she claims will be able to predict the outbreak of dengue fever up to 16 weeks in advance by calculating the risk of dengue incidence using precipitation and air temperature.

This is what Yien Ling Hii concludes in the dissertation she is defending at Umea University on 3 May.

About Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

Dengue fever is an infectious disease caused by virus and transmitted to persons by mosquitoes. A person contracted dengue fever usually shows symptoms including sudden spike of high fever, muscle ache, joint pain, rashes, and headache.

An infected person normally recovers within a few weeks, but a small per cent of patients can develop fatal complications such as plasma leakage, severe bleeding, and severe organ impairments which can lead to death.

To date, there is no drug for treatment or vaccines to protect against dengue fever. Therefore, the most effective way to prevent dengue is to control the mosquito population.

Dengue and Dengue Fever - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
Dengue is a tropical disease caused by mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, joint & muscle ache, fatigue, nausea and skin rash.

Dengue fever is widespread in more than 100 countries in the tropical and subtropical regions, where climate is warm and wet. In recent years, dengue fever has also become a threat in the southern Europe since a species of mosquitoes that is capable of spreading dengue has been found in the region.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has reported more than a thousand dengue cases in Madeira in the outbreak in 2012. Dengue cases were also reported in France and Croatia in 2010.

Chikungunya - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment. FAQs
Chikungunya is a viral disease spread by mosquito bites; it causes fever, severe joint pain and rash on the body. Chikungunya occurs in Africa, Asia and the Indian sub continent.

Temperature and rainfall directly influence the biological development of mosquitoes. Higher temperature can accelerate mosquito development stages and increase dengue transmission; while rainfall produces more breeding sites for mosquitoes.

According to a study carried out by Yien Ling Hii using data from Singapore, higher risk of dengue cases can occur in 3-4 months after favourable temperature and rainfall conditions take place.

A statistical forecasting model was developed to estimate the risk of dengue outbreak in this period to provide an early warning that allows sufficient time for response. The forecasting model is sensitive to detect dengue outbreaks and non-outbreaks with up to twenty per cent chance of false alarm.

"An early warning of disease outbreak can help local authorities and community to implement preventive measures such as eliminating mosquito breeding habitats to control or even prevent the outbreak from happening," said Yien Ling Hii.

Source-ANI