On 14 July 2024, the Ghana Health Service declared an outbreak of Dengue Fever. This was detected in some districts in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The National Surveillance System detected unusual cases of malaria-like illness. After a detail outbreak investigation by entomologist and epidemiologist, they saw it needful to issue a public alert to raise consciousness about the outbreak of dengue fever.
What is Dengue?
It is a viral infection that spread from female mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito to humans. Dengue is common in tropical and subtropical climates.
Aedes aegypti in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by Muhammad Mahdi Karim
Key Facts
- Dengue can be fatal.
- Aedes aegypti mosquito mostly bites during the day. Avoid mosquito bites during the day.
- There is no specific treatment for dengue.
- People infected can show no symptoms. The most common symptoms are high fever, body aches, nausea, and rash.
- Severe dengue symptoms often come after the fever symptoms. They include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums or nose, fatigue, relentlessness, blood in vomit or stool, being very thirsty, pale and cold skin.
- It is common in urban centres.
- Drinking more water is advisable.
Preventive Measures
- Apply mosquito preventive measures.
- Wear clothes to cover your limbs.
Press Release
Sources
Ghana Health Service, Public Alert -Outbreak of Dengue¸ 14 July 2024.
Word Health Organization, Dengue and Severe dengue, 23 April 2024.
Brady, O.J., et al., Refining the global spatial limits of dengue virus transmission by evidence-based consensus. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2012. 6 (8): p. e1760.
