JEDDAH, 27 July 2004 — A second Saudi has died in Jeddah as a result of dengue fever in a private hospital, Okaz daily reported yesterday.
The cases of suspected dengue fever reported in Jeddah hospitals has now reached 251. Of these 145 cases were confirmed by laboratory tests. Most of these cases were treated and only 11 patients remain in hospital.
A health care official in Jeddah said the health department was monitoring the situation, which was brought under control thanks to preventive measures adopted by the disease-control team. The official said a number of precautionary measures have been taken to prevent the disease from spreading. These include spraying mosquitoes and their breeding areas and increasing public awareness about the disease.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a virus. Dengue fever may occur in people of all ages who are exposed to infected Aedes mosquitoes.
The disease occurs mainly in tropical Asia and the Caribbean, usually during the rainy seasons in areas with high numbers of infected mosquitoes.
In Saudi Arabia, the water-rich areas around Najran are high-risk areas, as is any area near large bodies of standing fresh water. Other parts of the country, especially cities in the Western Region, are also vulnerable as visitors from infected regions or other countries may arrive carrying the virus.
The disease is characterized by the rapid development of a fever that may last from five to seven days accompanied by intense headaches, joint and muscle pains and a rash. The rash develops on the feet or legs three to four days after the onset of the fever.
The hemorrhagic form of dengue fever is more severe and associated with loss of appetite, vomiting, high fever, headache and abdominal pain. Shock and circulatory failure may occur.
The fever usually shows itself within 14 days after exposure to an infected mosquito, most frequently within seven days.
There is no specific treatment available. Intravenous fluids and oxygen therapy are often used for patients who experience shock during their illness.
