[ 2016-11-21 ]

Ghana issues Dengue fever alert
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued an
emergency health alert following the outbreak of
Dengue fever in Burkina Faso and 'rumoured'
discovery of Zika virus in Nigeria.

A statement signed by Dr Kofi Asemanyi-Mensah,
Deputy Director (Public Health) for the Western
Regional Health Directorate of the GHS received
the alert from the World Health Organisation.

"The Ghana Health Service has received
notification and alert of Dengue Fever alert in
Burkina Faso from WHO country office. By copy of
this mail, please be informed and keep alert.
Kindly enhance surveillance and update your
respective preparedness and response plans for
Dengue and other abro viruses."

The statement added that the GHS has “received
rumours of Zika virus circulating in Nigeria”,
adding that the public would be informed of any
further developments.

GHS says it has informed authorities at health
facilities in the country to “enhance
surveillance and update prospective preparedness
and response for plans for dengue (and other
arboviruses: dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and Yellow
Fever)”.

“Blood samples of suspected cases should be sent
in triple package protection with appropriate and
adequately filled case based form and sent to
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
(NMIMR) for laboratory tests,” the statement
said.

Dengue Fever

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection.

The infection causes flu-like illness, and
occasionally develops into a potentially lethal
complication called severe dengue.

The global incidence of dengue has grown
dramatically in recent decades. About half of the
world's population is now at risk.

Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical
climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban
areas.

Severe dengue is a leading cause of serious
illness and death among children in some Asian and
Latin American countries.

There is no specific treatment for dengue/ severe
dengue, but early detection and access to proper
medical care lowers fatality rates below 1%.

Dengue prevention and control depends on effective
vector control measures.

A dengue vaccine has been licensed by several
National Regulatory Authorities for use in people
9-45 years of age living in endemic settings.

Zika virus

Zika virus disease is caused by a virus
transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes.

People with Zika virus disease can have symptoms
including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis,
muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These
symptoms normally last for 2-7 days.

There is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a
cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré
syndrome. Links to other neurological
complications are also being investigated

Source - Pulse.com

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