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Dengue fever is on the rise – also in Europe. Some warning signs indicate a mosquito-borne viral infection.
Frankfurt – The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is spreading worldwide. It is considered to be the causative agent of the deadly dengue fever. In Europe too Especially in Italy, the number of dengue patients has increased. But how is a viral infection diagnosed?
“Significant increase”: Cases of dengue fever continue to spread
“Dengue cases have increased in Italy in recent years. A total of 362 cases were reported in 2023,” said Christian Wiedermann, research coordinator at the Institute of General Medicine and Public Health in Bolzano. News from Südtirol. “This represents a significant increase as there has been an increase from a few cases per year to hundreds over the past decade.”
According to the internist, the increase is due to climate changes and increased travel to tropical and subtropical regions. Therefore, at the end of May, entire districts in Trieste had to be disinfected on a large scale to reduce the number of mosquitoes and prevent further infection. Such Trieste was disinfected last year arranged.
Dengue cases are on the rise worldwide: the first warning signs
The disease is spread by the bite of an infected tiger mosquito. The incubation period usually lasts seven to ten days. Person-to-person transmission is unlikely. Dengue infection usually presents as a severe febrile illness, the Tropical Institute reports on its website Website. These warning signs indicate a disease:
- high fever
- Severe headache, muscle, bone and joint pain
- Skin rash
- Nausea and vomiting
“Warning symptoms of severe dengue infection include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding areas (such as nosebleeds or bloody stools), severe fatigue and irritability. If these symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately,” Wiederman explained.
Dengue infection: When is the disease fatal?
Sufferers usually recover within a few days. However, for some it can lead to serious complications or even death. In rare but severe cases, hemorrhagic dengue fever can occur. This leads to a disruption in blood platelets, which means poor blood flow to the organs. Circulatory failure (dengue shock syndrome) may occur within days. If victims are left untreated, 40 to 50 percent of cases are fatal.
Although two vaccines are currently approved in the European Union, the Standardized Vaccine Authority (Stiko) recommends the vaccine especially when traveling to dengue-endemic areas such as South and Central America. But it’s also important to protect yourself properly, for example long-sleeved clothing or mosquito repellent. Not only in southern Europe, but also in Germany, the incidence of dengue fever is on the rise. (which)