Info About Dengue Essay Example for Free

Info About Dengue Essay Humans are the major hosts of the dengue virus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes represent the principal vector .A aegypti is closely associated with human habitation and its larvae are often found in artificial water containers such as discarded tires, buckets and water storage facilities. Dengue is a mosquito borne disease that has recently become a public health concern. The WHO has estimated that 40% of the world’s population is at risk of getting dengue and there are currently 50 million dengue infections worldwide every year. Despite its high economic costs, dengue is often neglected in the face of more severe diseases. It is found in urban and semi-urban areas (WHO, 2002). Fact Sheet: Dengue and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever. (2002). 2010, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs117/en/ Dengue has the threat potential to put large numbers of a country’s most productive population out of work for weeks which makes it an extremely costly disease. In order to stop that, we have these three variables playing a vital role to some extent. Income: Gallup and Sachs (2001) showed that countries with intensive malaria had significantly lower incomes levels (dependant variable) than those without (Gallup Sachs 2001). The period they analysed was 1965 to 1990. Their approach is hence replicated below for the dengue case to parse the effects of dengue on income levels. Awareness: Any vector control policy however needs to be reinforced with an effective community engagement effort. This includes a strategic public education and community involvement program to spread awareness about dengue amongst the population. This awareness about disease could include media advertising, and outreach to community groups, schools and other social organizations. Report of the expert panel on dengue [monograph on the internet]. (2005).). Singapore: Singapore Ministry of Health. Access to Hospitals: The total economic cost of dengue however far exceeds the simple costs of vector control. Direct patient, hospitalization, mortality and morbidity costs, along with opportunity costs of time and productivity losses due to illness also need to be considered.