Dengue cases expected to rise with climate change

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A medical advisor from New Zealand's Immunization Advisory Center says dengue fever is expected to increase with climate change and urbanization.

In its report for the period of April 1-14, Samoa's Ministry of Health said the country had 82 new cases reported in the two weeks to 14 April.

The American Samoa Health Department is not reporting any dengue surge in the territory at this time.

Dr Joan Ingram said cases of dengue have increased more than six-fold since 2000.

"It is expected that cases will continue to increase with climate change and urbanization," she said.

"Between 2012 and 2021 there were 69 outbreaks of dengue fever among the Pacific Islands."

She said after an infected mosquito bite there was an incubation period of 5 to 7 days (maximum 10).

Dengue infection may be unnoticed, a mild illness or significant illness with fever, pain behind the eyes, bone, joint and muscle pain, and sometimes rash, vomiting and diarrhea.

"In up to 5 percent of infections - most often after a second infection - serious complications such as bleeding or shock can arise.

"There are four different dengue viruses, and infection with one gives long-term protection from that virus, but may make the illness following one of the other three dengue viruses more serious."

World Mosquito Program director of global delivery Cameron Simmons said Samoa, like most other countries in the Western Pacific, had a long history of being impacted by dengue outbreaks.

He advocated for the Wolbachia method, developed by his organisation, which gave mosquitoes the bacteria to reduce their ability to transmit dengue, Zika and other viruses.

"We know that insecticides and environmental clean-up campaigns can help a little to control the outbreak, but they are short-lived interventions that will not stop future outbreaks in Samoa.

"This most recent surge in dengue case numbers is troubling because the case numbers will inevitably increase, stressing the health system and hurting the wellbeing of patients and their families."

HEALTH ADVICE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you use insect repellent, wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and control mosquitoes inside and outside your home.

Each year, an estimated 400 million people are infected with dengue virus through the bites of infected mosquitoes. About 100 million get sick. Outbreaks have occurred in Southeast Asia, the Western Pacific, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa.

The most common symptoms are fever and one or more of the following including headache, eye pain (typically behind the eyes), muscle, joint, or bone pain, rash, nausea and vomiting.

Severe dengue is an emergency. Recognize the warning signs.

    If you or a family member develops any of these warning signs, go to a local clinic or emergency room immediately: Stomach or belly pain, tenderness, vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours), bleeding from the nose or gums, vomiting blood, or blood in the stool, feeling tired, restless, or irritable.

A dengue vaccine is ONLY approved for use in children 9–16 years old with laboratory-confirmed evidence of a previous dengue virus infection and living in areas of the United States where dengue is common (U.S. territories of American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the freely associated states, including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau).

    To help prevent dengue, use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outside. Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers. Check inside and outside your home. Mosquitoes lay eggs near water.