HPA: Dengue worst in Shaviyani Atoll

The highest number of cases of dengue fever this year has been reported from Shaviyani Atoll, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has said.

Public Health Program Officer of HPA, Aminath Madheeha, told Sun Online that 16 cases have been reported from Shaviyani Atoll so far, followed by 15 from Raa Atoll, and six each from Noonu Atoll and Haa Alifu Atoll.

Shaviyani Atoll Council President Mohamed Arif said that a program has been launched to control the disease, including fogging and destroying mosquito habitats in all islands in the atoll.

The program is undertaken by a task force assembled for this purpose, in cooperation with members of the public, said Arif.

Symptoms of dengue fever are similar to flu symptoms, and include fever, headache, joint pain, vomiting, and skin rash.

While there are no symptoms specific to dengue fever alone, more serious signs include tiredness, dehydration, vomiting blood, and bleeding from the mouth and nose.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease, and its prevention requires control or eradication of the mosquitoes carrying the virus.

The yellow fever mosquito, or Aedes aegypti, can be recognized by white markings on its legs. It prefers to breed in areas of stagnant water, and HPA has advised the public to destroy all open sources of stagnant water at home.

HPA said that by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 30 June 2015, 384 cases of dengue fever had been reported from across the country.

The number of cases in Malé stood at 122, and three people have died from this outbreak so far.