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Dengue Fever as a Continuing Threat in Tropical and Subtropical Regions around the World and Strategy for Its Control and Prevention

Muhammad Sarwar

Dengue fever also known as break-bone fever has emerged as a worldwide problem afflicting millions of people each year in tropical and subtropical regions. Dengue viral infection is transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito and the symptoms appear on an average of 4-7 days after an infective bite of vector. The dengue virus of the genus Flavivirus, is a tiny spherical structure that can only replicate inside a host organism and comprising four types of viruses called serotypes due to different interactions with the antibodies in human blood serum. The present paper highlights the approaches having the potential to greatly reduce the global burden of this disease that solely depends on adoption of effective control measures, and its prevention and control. Urbanization, rapid movement of peoples and goods, favorable climatic conditions and lack of trained staff all have contributed to the global increase of dengue. Typical dengue is fatal in less than 1% of cases, and for helping in its recovery, healthcare experts recommend to take medicine to reduce fever. Dengue control strategy supports an integrated approach to sustain control measures, vector management and coordinated action among multi-sectoral partners at all levels. Its leading rule is to synchronize prevention, entomological and epidemiological surveillances, and case management within existing health systems, making sure that efforts to control disease are coherent, ecologically sound, cost-effective and sustainable.