National Dengue Day; Signs, Symptoms, Precautions, Hospitals; WHO Prequalifies New Dengue Vaccine

Every year on 16 May in India, National Dengue Day is celebrated to bring greater awareness about the disease and how to fight against it. Here are some details to know about dengue and how to fight against it.

Dengue is a viral disease, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti, or yellow fever mosquito. This breed of mosquitoes thrives on stored water, like puddles, open containers, or drains. People are advised during the monsoon season to not leave water containers out in the open and cover up the drains as much as possible to reduce the chances of these mosquitoes breeding and spreading.

Symptoms of dengue to look out for include an abrupt case of high fever, measles like rashes in the upper half of the body, as well as nausea and vomiting. The worst symptoms include vomiting with blood, extreme thirst, a weak pulse, and difficulty breathing.

The National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC) advises doing the following in order to prevent infection:

• Remove water from coolers and other small containers at least once in a week.
• Use aerosol during day time to prevent the bites of mosquitoes.
• Do not wear clothes that expose arms and legs.
• Children should not be allowed to play in shorts and half sleeved clothes.
• Use mosquito nets or mosquito repellents while sleeping during day time.
• Stagnant water in drains, garbage and coolers more than a week is alarm for dengue.

According to the NCVBDC, the reported number of cases and deaths from dengue have been rising in India since 2018. The number of cases, however, saw a dip during both 2020 as well as recently in 2023.

While the case numbers for 2024 haven't been released yet, some states are still trying to take a proactive approach towards disease control. According to O Herald, the state officials of Goa put out a warning that the number of dengue cases within the first three months of 2024 had tripled the number of cases in the first three months of 2023.

A news release by WHO on 10 May said that the organisation has just approved a new dengue vaccine called TAK-003 and recommended its use on children between the ages of 6-16. The vaccine is supposed to be given in two doses with a gap of three months in between. While the vaccine has not been approved for use in India as of yet, Biological E, a Hyderabad based vaccine maker, has already partnered with the creators of TAK-003, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, to produce 50 million vaccine doses a year.

Readers below can find the list from 2023 of sentinel surveillance hospitals recommended by the NCVBDC that can help diagnose and treat dengue in your state.