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Published Date: 2012-04-23 21:47:09
Subject: PRO/MBDS> Dengue - Cambodia (03)
Archive Number: 20120423.0928

DENGUE - CAMBODIA (03)
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Date: Fri 20 Apr 2012
Source: The Phnom Penh Post [edited]
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012042055680/National-news/dengue-cases-trending-up.html

About 1000 more cases of dengue fever were reported in Cambodia during
the 1st 3 months of this year [2012] than in the same period in 2011, a
Ministry of Health spokesperson said yesterday [19 Apr 2012].

Chor Meng Chuor, director of the National Centre for Parasitology,
Entomology and Malaria Control, said 8 people had died and 1393 were
infected through to [31 Mar 2012], up from 4 deaths and 339 cases in the
1st 3 months of last year [2011].

"That's why we're distributing 270 tonnes of [insecticide] across the
country," he said yesterday [19 Apr 2012] at a dengue fever awareness
parade that involved about 600 school students in the capital's Sen Sok
district.

Chor Meng Chuor said the Ministry of Health and the World Health
Organisation had been preparing for an outbreak because of dengue
fever's tendency to strike in 1 of its 4 forms about every 5 years.

In 2007, more than 400 people, mostly children, died from dengue fever
in Cambodia, while authorities recorded about 40 000 infections.

"We don't want to see another year like 2007, so this campaign is very
important to alert and awaken parents to this," he said. Minister of
Health Mom Bun Heng said the campaign would help the community work
together to prevent outbreaks. "Children must not die from this virus,
because we can prevent it," he said.

Steve Bjorge, malaria and mosquito-borne disease team leader for the WHO
in Phnom Penh, said the campaign would focus on distributing insecticide
to 10 provinces, including Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, Kandal, and Phnom
Penh that are at higher risk of dengue fever.

"Nothing unusual may happen, but it would be prudent to take
precautions," he said, adding that dengue fever could strike anywhere
but was most common in urban areas.

"Mosquitoes lay eggs on water. Water in the vicinity of a house in small
containers, cups, tins, coconut shells and especially large water jars
under houses . . . are breeding sites for dengue mosquitoes. If you live
in a house . . . you should go around and check if there is any standing
water in containers."

"Seven-coloured" fish could be put in water to eat larvae, he said,
adding that the black and white tiger mosquito, also known as the
_Aedes_ mosquito, was the only type that could transmit dengue fever.

The Post reported in late February 2012 that the Ministry of Health was
preparing for an "epidemic cycle" after an "unusual increase" in
mosquito larvae.

Dengue fever killed 72 people, mostly children, in Cambodia last year
[2011].

[Byline: Sen David]

--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>

[The newswire above reports an increasing trend of dengue infection in
Cambodia. A total of 1393 cases and 8 deaths were reported in Cambodia
during the 1st 3 months of 2012. About 1000 more cases due to dengue
infection were reported in 2012 than for the same period in 2011, when a
total of 339 cases and 4 deaths were reported.

According to the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office's (WPRO) report on
the dengue situation, dated 3 Apr 2012, the trend of dengue activity is
gradually increasing in Cambodia. A total of 684 cases and 3 deaths due
to dengue infection, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.4 percent,
were reported between 1 Jan 2012 and 13 Mar 2012. Relatively high
activity of dengue infection was reported in 2012 compared to historic
seasonal baseline; 232 cases and 1 death, with a CFR of 0.4 percent in
2011 for the same time period (see
http://www.wpro.who.int/entity/emerging_diseases/03_Apr_2012DengueBiWeekly.pdf).

The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in
recent decades. Over 2.5 billion people are now at risk from dengue. WHO
currently estimates there may be 50-100 million dengue infections
worldwide every year. There are 4 serotypes of the virus that cause
dengue (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4). Recovery from infection by one
provides lifelong immunity against that particular serotype. However,
cross-immunity to the other serotypes after recovery is only partial and
temporary. Subsequent infections by other serotypes increase the risk of
developing severe dengue. To date, there is no vaccine to protect
against dengue (see http://www.who.int/wer/2012/wer8708.pdf).

For a map of Cambodia with provinces, see
http://ephotopix.com/image/asia/cambodia_province_map.gif. For the
interactive HealthMap/ProMED-mail map with links to other recent
PRO/MBDS and ProMED-mail postings on Cambodia and neighboring countries,
see http://healthmap.org/r/2g4s. - Mod.SCM]

See Also