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Written By: Admin | Updated : July 31, 2013 10:30 AM IST
Thirty-eight fresh cases of dengue fever were Sunday confirmed by Odisha authorities, taking the figure for the year so far to 268. Cuttack has been the worst-hit with 187 cases. Of the latest 38 cases, the highest of 29 were reported from Cuttack, M.M. Pradhan, joint director of the state health department, told IANS. Although local media reported the death of a 20-year-old man at Cuttack, 26 km from here, Saturday, Pradhan said the area health officials were yet to confirm it. He said blood samples of as many as 1,160 people have been tested this year and 268 of them have so far been found positive for dengue.
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 over five thousand Indians every year and is a seasonal threat, particularly during the monsoon seasons. Read: Prevent dengue with 10 practical tips
