Dengue outbreak worrying global experts

[Guest guest]

Dengue outbreak worrying global experts

Kounteya Sinha

[ 7 Oct, 2006 0159hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates

NEW DELHI: India's dengue outbreak is worrying leading experts of the

disease, gathered at Geneva for a WHO-organised discussion, with

specialists feeling that there was a risk of the bug being

transported by travellers from India to other countries where it is

not currently prevalent.

They also felt that the outbreak was related to rapid urbanisation

and that it would, in the years to come, put India's medicare system

under immense pressure.

India's dengue scene was " subject of serious discussion " at WHO's

meeting of the Scientific Working Group on dengue in Geneva. The week-

long meeting, which concluded on Thursday, coincided with India's

dengue outbreak which has been reported by foreign media.

Several top scientists, present at the meeting, including those from

dengue endemic countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam

and Europe are now coming to India in November, to study the disease

and work new methods of controlling the deadly dengue virus.

The over 20-member scientific team hopes to collaborate with Indian

scientists on finding new strategies on how best to control the

vector, treat patients better, improve diagnostic tools, develop a

vaccine against dengue and cooperate with the health ministry on a

policy against the disease.

***

Speaking to TOI from Geneva, Prof Farrar from Oxford

University's Hospital for Tropical Diseases, who will visit the

National Institute of Virology, Pune, in November, said the outbreak

was of major concern because of the possibility of the virus

travelling to countries where it is not currently prevalent.

Farrar said, " Huge number of constructions are happening in India

now. This is a perfect setting for the dengue virus carrying Aedes

Aegypti mosquito as it is well adapted to urban settings and breeds

in sites.

Dengue is a complicated disease and if prevention isn't stepped up,

cases will spiral, stretching India's already burdened hospital and

public health system. "

Saying no disease today is country specific, Farrar pointed out that

the disease is spreading to Brazil, Central America, Myanmar and

Thailand. " All it takes is a dengue infected person, visiting a

country for trade and being bitten by a mosquito there.

The infected mosquito then infects others with dengue, thereby

spreading the disease. No disease is today isolated and India, being

a trading nation with huge number of people travelling around the

world everyday, poses as a grave threat, " Farrar said.'

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2110473.cms