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Dengue virus caused 390 million infections in 2012

Dengue virus caused 390 million infections in 2012

Written by Editorial Team |Updated : March 22, 2015 10:54 PM IST

A new study suggests that the dengue virus may be more widespread than previously estimated by WHO, particularly in the tropical region. Of this India alone accounted for 33 million infections in 2012. Samir Bhatt, DPhil, from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and colleagues published their findings online on April 7.

The researchers used the literature and other sources to compile a database of dengue occurrence records and then use this data to create evidence-based maps of worldwide dengue risk and prevalence.

In the study, the researchers used the literature and other sources to compile a database of dengue occurrence records and then used those data to create an evidence-based map of worldwide dengue risk and prevalence. The findings suggest that about 390 million people in 2012 suffered from dengue, a figure that's almost four times higher WHO's estimated 100 million.

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Finding out the distribution and prevalence of the dengue virus infection would help in devising treatment and prevention strategies. 'Knowledge of the geographical distribution and burden of dengue is essential for understanding its contribution to global morbidity and mortality burdens, in determining how to allocate optimally the limited resources available for dengue control, and in evaluating the impact of such activities internationally,' the authors write. 'Additionally, estimates of both apparent and unapparent infection distributions form a key requirement for assessing clinical surveillance and for scoping reliably future vaccine demand and delivery strategies.'

The burden of apparent dengue virus infection in the Americas was 13 million, which was similar to the burden of 16 million infections estimated for Africa.

They also estimated that 294 million mild or asyptomatic infections occurred worldwide in 2012 and the majority of them were in Asia. 'The global burden of dengue is formidable and represents a growing challenge to public health officials and policymakers,' the authors write. 'Success in tackling this growing global threat is, in part, contingent on strengthening the evidence base on which control planning decisions and their impact are evaluated. It is hoped that this evaluation of contemporary dengue risk distribution and burden will help to advance that goal.'

What is dengue?

Dengue refers to a tropical disease caused by four different types of virus. It is usually transmitted by mosquitoes and the common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains and skin rash. There is no vaccine for dengue and the only way to reduce infections is to improve hygiene levels so as to prevent mosquito-bites and prevent mosquitoes from breeding. It's particularly difficult to create a vaccine because it's caused by different viruses and there are no animal models available for testing. The disease kills thousands of Indians every year and is a seasonal threat, particularly during the monsoon seasons.