Philippine health secretary has said that global warming may have contributed to a 43 percent rise in the number of dengue cases in the country for the first half of the year.
The biggest increase in the country was seen in Metropolitan Manila, where there was an almost 200 percent increase.
Dengue
Dengue is a tropical disease caused by mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, joint & muscle ache, fatigue, nausea and skin rash.
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According to government figures 15,061 cases of the disease in the Philippines were reported in the first six months of the year.
"The increase in the number of dengue cases may be attributed to the constantly changing climate brought by global warming as well as congestion in urban areas," health secretary Francisco Duque said.
![Mosquito Diseases]( "Mosquito Diseases")
Mosquito-borne diseases, like malaria, filaria, dengue, etc are common in places conducive of mosquito breeding. Swamps, ponds and stagnated drainage provide optimal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Deaths due to dengue rose to 172 compared with 115 for the first half of 2007, he said.
The highly urbanised capital of Metropolitan Manila had the highest number of cases, an increase of 191 percent over the same period in 2007.
World Health Organisation officials earlier this year warned climate change was increasing the incidence of dengue fever and other infectious diseases in the country.
There is no known cure or vaccine for dengue fever, which is transmitted by the white-spotted mosquito.
Source: AFP
RAS/S
Mosquito Diseases
Mosquito-borne diseases, like malaria, filaria, dengue, etc are common in places conducive of mosquito breeding. Swamps, ponds and stagnated drainage provide optimal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
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Deaths due to dengue rose to 172 compared with 115 for the first half of 2007, he said.
The highly urbanised capital of Metropolitan Manila had the highest number of cases, an increase of 191 percent over the same period in 2007.
World Health Organisation officials earlier this year warned climate change was increasing the incidence of dengue fever and other infectious diseases in the country.
There is no known cure or vaccine for dengue fever, which is transmitted by the white-spotted mosquito.
Source: AFP
RAS/S
Dengue Vaccine Production to Begin in Brazil
Brazil is to start producing a vaccine against the potentially fatal tropical virus dengue fever later this year, a researcher at the Sao Paulo institute has told a science conference.
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 Breakthrough in Dengue Virus ResearchA new research says that a novel four-component vaccine that has shown success against all four strains of the dengue virus in monkeys has been discovered. | Advertisement
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