DENGUE/DHF UPDATES (15): 19 APR 2002
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[see also:
Dengue/DHF updates (01): 14 Jan 2002      20020115.3265
Dengue/DHF updates (14): 12 Apr 2002      20020412.3945
2001
----
Dengue/DHF updates (01): 8 Jan 2001         20010108.0064
Dengue/DHF updates (21): 18 Dec 2001      20011218.3058
Dengue - Brazil      20011018.2566
Dengue fever, control measures - Thailand         20010708.1321
Dengue fever, control measures - Thailand (02) 20010711.1338
2000
---
Dengue forecasting - The Americas      20000415.0535
1998
----
Dengue - Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)         19980326.0563
Dengue - Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) (02) 19980405.0626
Dengue/DHF - Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)         19980406.0638
Dengue/DHF - Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) (03) 19980419.0724
Dengue - Cook Islands (02) 19980325.0557
Dengue - Cook Islands         19980317.0501
Dengue, suspected - Nicaragua (Mulukuku)  19990618.1037
Dengue - Thailand         19980101.0007
Dengue - Thailand (06) 19980425.0778
Dengue - Thailand (Gulf islands)      19980706.1266
1997
---
Dengue - Cook Islands: end      19970618.1300
Dengue - Cook Islands               19970224.0438
1996
----
Dengue - Hawaii, USA       19960428.0816
Dengue - Hawaii, USA (2) 19960501.0838
1995
----
Dengue - Cook Is. & S.Pacific      19950616.0417]

In these updates:
[1] Brazil: Rio de Janeiro
[2] Cook Islands
[3] Thailand
[4] Nicaragua

****
[1]
Date: Thu 18 Apr 2002
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Rio City Health Dept. Thu 18 Apr 2002 [Translated & edited by
JW]
<http://www4.rio.rj.gov.br/pubsms/media/DENG2002_55.doc>


Brazil: City of Rio de Janeiro -
Official dengue statistics as of 18 Apr 2002
-------------------------------------------
Jan 2002 23 396
Feb 2002 30 976
Mar 2002 36 355
Apr*2002 2094
-----------------------
Total 92 831 [incl. 10 date unknown]

[Age & sex table available here]

Diagnosis by criteria:
-------------------
Date /Clinical /Epidemiological /Lab.
Jan 2002 /4140 /18 714/542
Feb 2002 /12 976 /17 517 /483
Mar 2002 /15 216 /20 746 /393
Apr*2002 /1029 /1026 /39
---------------------------------
Total /33 369 /58 005 /1457

Diagnosis by clinical type
--------------------------
Date /Classic /Hemorrhagic /Unknown+Inconclusive
Jan 2002 /16 084 /205 /7107
Feb 2002 /13 578 /199/17 199
Mar 2002 /16 294 /122/ 19 939
Apr*2002/ 800 /13/
-------------------------------
Total /46 758/ 539/ 1281

*up to 18 Apr 2002

Deaths by clinical presentation
------------------------
Type /Dead / Survived
Classic dengue 13/46 745
Hemorrhagic 18/521
Unknown 0/43 816
Inconclusive 0/1718

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[It appears that there have been 13 deaths attributed to dengue
without hemorrhagic signs or symptoms. It is not stated whether any of
those were laboratory-confirmed. It would be in interesting to know
how many specimens were laboratory-tested -- in a large epidemic such
as this it is impossible to test everyone, but in Puerto Rico in the
1970s, if I remember correctly, we never achieved more than 50 percent
lab confirmation, for a variety of reasons (inappropriate specimens,
intercurrent flu, etc.). - Mod.JW]

******
[2]
Date: Fri 19 Apr 2002
From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net>
Source Pacific Islands News (PACNEWS), Wed 17 April 2002 [edited]


Cook Islands: Second Wave of Cases on Rarotonga
-----------------------------------------------
The Cook Islands campaign to eradicate mosquitoes, nicknamed
"Operation Namu", could be reactivated amid fears that a new strain
[serotype] of [dengue virus] has hit the island. A wave of new cases
has appeared at the Rarotonga Hospital and Health Ministry officials
have started sending blood samples overseas to determine whether there
is another dengue strain [serotype] present on the island. "We should
be able to confirm by next week whether we are still dealing with type
1 dengue virus," said Health secretary Tupu Araiti yesterday.

People infected with any one strain [serotype] of dengue virus are
subsequently immune to that strain [serotype], hence the new wave of
cases has doctors fearing that a second strain [serotype] is now
active. Dengue haemorrhagic fever, which is often fatal, is most
common among people infected for a second time [with a heterologous
serotype].

The numbers of patients seen at the hospital on a daily basis have
risen recently; up from single digits at the end of last month. There
were 19 patients in Rarotonga hospital up to the end of last week.
Araiti said he is not sure whether the recent hot weather has had
anything to do with the recent increase in cases. Dengue patient
numbers are much lower than the peak reached in mid February [2002].
It is understood over 1000 people, mainly on Rarotonga, have been
infected since late last year. There are 8 suspected cases on
Aitutaki.

Araiti says most of the outer islands are free of the disease and
attention is mainly focused on Rarotonga at the moment. "There's every
possibility that [Operation Namu will be reactivated]," said Araiti.
"[Because] we need to assure our visitors we are dengue free -- I
think that's the bottom line". He said a spraying programme could
start up again, but a lot will depend on the weather.
--
Pablo Nart
<p.nart@virgin.net>

******
[3]
Date: Fri 19 Apr 2002
From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net>
Source: Nation (Thailand), Mon 8 April 2002 [edited]


Thailand: Early Onset of Dengue Fever in Bangkok
------------------------------------------------
Dengue fever has struck earlier this year, particularly in Bangkok,
the Public Health Ministry said yesterday. Public Health Minister
Sudarat Keyuraphan said it was estimated that the total number of
dengue cases could reach 200 000 this year [2002]. There have been 10
494 cases and 14 deaths reported in the first 3 months of this year,
compared to 10 211 cases and 15 deaths during the same period last
year. "All regions of the country have seen higher incidence of the
disease this year, especially Bangkok, which again appears to be the
most vulnerable area with 1845 cases," she said.

--
Pablo Nart
<p.nart@virgin.net>

******
[4]
Date: Fri 19 Apr 2002
From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net>
Source: Fuente La Prensa, 18 Apr 2002 [edited]
<http://www.laprensa.com.ni/nacionales/nacionales-20020418-03.html>


Nicaragua: Dengue Fever Update
------------------------------
In 2001, 20 people died from dengue.  This year [2002], by the middle
of February, 354 people had become ill, 114 more than the same period
in 2001.

Even though the health authorities have announced a drop in cases in
the last few weeks, Dr Gustavo Porras,  who heads the (National)
Assembly's Health Commission, explained yesterday that there has been
an increase of 50% in cases of dengue over last year, which implies
that the epidemic brought by the _Aedes aegypti_ mosquito (the
carrier) will have a bigger impact in 2002 that it did in 2001.

Factors that favor the epidemic include the scarcity of abate sand [an
insecticide effective against mosquito larvae] and insecticides in the
hands of MINSA [the Health Ministry].  The director of Silais-Managua,
Carlos Jarquin, said last Monday that abate sand and insecticides
would be made available to fight against dengue, while acknowledging
that resources are insufficient. Porras said that the government has
agreed to the creation of an emergency fund to deal with the extreme
situation about to confront health authorities.

--
Pablo Nart
<p.nart@virgin.net>
...............................jw/cp/pg/jw


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