First case of dengue spread by sex confirmed

MADRID – Spanish health authorities confirmed Friday a case of a man spreading dengue through sex, a world first for a virus which until recently was thought to be transmitted only by mosquitos.

The case concerns a 41-year-old man from Madrid who contracted dengue after having sex with his male partner who picked up the virus from a mosquito bite during a trip to Cuba, said Susana Jimenez of the Madrid region’s public health department.

His dengue infection was confirmed in September and it puzzled doctors

because he had not traveled to a country where the disease, which causes severe flu-like symptoms such as high fever and body aches, is common, she added.

“His partner presented the same symptoms as him but lighter around 10 days earlier, and he had previously visited Cuba and the Dominican Republic,” Jimenez said.

“An analysis of their sperm was carried out and it revealed that not only did they have dengue but that it was exactly the same virus which circulates in Cuba.”

A “likely” case of sexual transmission of dengue between a man and a woman was the subject of a recent scientific article in South Corea, Jimenez said.

In an e-mail sent to AFP, the Stockholm-based European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which monitors health and disease in Europe, said this was “to our knowledge, the first sexual transmission of the dengue


virus among men who have sex with men.”

According to the World Health Organization’s website, dengue is transmitted mainly by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which thrives in densely-populated tropical climates and breeds in stagnant pools of water.

It is most serious – and deadly – in children, especially young girls, though scientists don’t know why.

Dengue is most commonly caught by people traveling to hotter climates such as southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, the Caribbean and South and Central America.

source: philstar.com

Dengue vaccine could be ready by end 2015

SINGAPORE -- A giant drug manufacturer has achieved breakthroughs in the development of a dengue vaccine, which could be ready by the end of next year, the Straits Times reported Monday.

Guillaume Leroy, head of the dengue vaccine unit of drug giant Sanofi Pasteur, announced the success of a clinical trial in Asia to test the effectiveness of the vaccine at the two-day ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Dengue Summit held in Angeles City, the Philippines over the weekend, the newspaper said.

It may be the world's first dengue vaccine, as there has so far been no vaccines for dengue.

In the trial conducted by Sanofi Pasteur, dengue cases in the group of about 10,000 -- including participants from Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia -- fell by more than half after the vaccine candidate was administered.

Another trial involving more than 20,000 people is currently under way in Latin America.

"We are at a very critical milestone," Leroy said. "By the end of the year, we will have a full analysis of all the results."

The outcome of these latest trials brings Sanofi Pasteur a step closer to a goal that has been more than 20 years in the making. The company's work on a dengue vaccine has been hampered by the fact that dengue has four different strains. All must be effectively subdued before any vaccine can be counted a success, which the company said the drug has managed to do.

Dengue is the fastest spreading vector-borne viral disease, according to the World Health Organization, and is endemic in over 100 countries. Four in 10 people are at risk of getting infected.

More than two thirds of the world's dengue cases come from Asia, with Southeast Asia a major contributor.

Sanofi Pasteur said it aims to put its vaccine in markets where it is most needed first, including the Southeast Asia.

"The overall ambition is first to address the disease where it is most severe," said Leroy.

As soon as its vaccine is approved for use, Sanofi Pasteur will be able to churn out 100 million doses a year. Long before the vaccine neared completion, the company invested in a 350 million euro production plant located in France in 2009.

source: interaksyon.com

Dengue cases on the rise in Brunei due to rainy season

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - The Ministry of Health (MoH) has reminded the public to be wary of mosquito-borne diseases, especially during the current rainy season, as the reported number of dengue cases was on the rise in Brunei.

The MoH, in a statement released on Sunday, said that in 2012, a total of 290 cases of dengue fever were recorded while for this year, a total of 349 cases have been reported up to Oct. 12.

Mosquitoes are vectors for diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, chikungunya, filiriasis and Japanese encephalitis, the MoH said.

A similar increase has been reported in other countries in the region and it was found to be associated with a higher volume of rainfall that caused increasing occurrence of water stagnation where mosquitoes breed rapidly.

The public is advised to take on a number of preventative measures, including wiping out mosquito breeding sites and seeking medical treatment when showing any listed symptoms.

Mosquitoes are known to breed in pools of stagnant water in places such as flower vases, clogged drains, plastic bottles and used tires, among others.

Most of the dengue fever cases in Brunei Darussalam were reported in the Brunei-Muara District, with only a small number in the other districts.

source: interaksyon.com

Michael V.’s dengue worsens as Ogie Alcasid, other celebs join call for blood donors, prayers

Hours before his sellout 25th anniversary concert at the Mall of Asia Arena last Friday, Ogie Alcasid tweeted that his close friend, Michael V. was confined at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City and needed a donor of B+ type of blood platelets.


Just the day before, August 15, Ogie posted the message, “Get well my dearest bro!! In Jesus name, you will be healed and be up and about. Love you”, along with an Instagram photo of the comedian fondly known to fans and friends as Bitoy lying in his hospital bed and giving the thumbs-up sign.


As it turns out, Michael V. himself tweeted, “Need your prayers” last August 14 with an Instagram link that says, “Dear friends & well wishers, this DENGUE is persistent. My platelets are now down to 47k & it has made me very weak.”

On the basis of his Twitter posts, Bitoy has not been feeling well since August 11 when he tweeted, “Hey guys. Hope you’re enjoying the show (‘Pepito Manaloto’). Kainis, I have a bad flu right now. Pero nood din habang may time.”

That was the day after he appeared in high spirits during a press conference for the renewal of his endorsement deal with Rebisco crackers where he announced that he will be hosting an upcoming game show for TV5.

Aside from Ogie, other celebrities that also called for a blood donor include wife Regine Velasquez, Rhian Ramos and KC Montero.

Among those who heeded Ogie’s call for a blood donor through Twitter are the Philippine Red Cross and actor Rocco Nacino who revealed that he is a type B+ and promised to drop by at St. Luke’s before watching the singer-songwriter’s concert.

But according to a tweet by Mark Escueta at around 8PM Friday night, Bitoy’s blood count had further dropped to 10k. The Rivermaya drummer continues to ask his followers to pray for the “Pepito Manaloto” star.

source: interaksyon.com

Nationwide dengue cases up 3.89% - DOH

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Friday a 3.89 percent increase in the number of dengue cases nationwide from January 1 to June 2 this year, or a total of 32,193 cases compared to 30,989 during the same period last year.

The latest DOH Disease Surveillance on Dengue showed that most of the reported dengue cases were from the National Capital Region (NCR), with 7,670 or 23.8 percent; Region 3, 5,552 or 17.2 percent, and Region 4-A, 4,508 or 14 percent.

In NCR, the DOH report said at least six of the 17 local government units (LGUs) have reported an increase in dengue cases. These are Manila with 1,420 dengue cases as compared to 938 in 2011 (51.39 percent); Pateros, 78 compared to 58, (34.48 percent); Makati, 194 vs 149, (30.20 percent); Pasay, 251 vs 215, (16.74 percent); Paranaque, 519 vs 447, (16.11 percent); and Quezon City, 2,111 vs 2,109, (0.09 percent).

With this report, Dr. Irma Asuncion, DOH-National Center for Disease Prevention (NCDPC) director, warned the public to be wary in patronizing anti-mosquito repellent that is out in the market claiming as protection against dengue.

Asuncion said that the public should make sure that the anti-mosquito repellent they applied is legitimate or already been known effective as compared to new products claiming as protection from dengue.

"Our point is that if it is not effective, then it will give the family false sense of security that they are safe or protected from getting dengue and will not bother to have themselves check up right away, especially if they have fever," she pointed out.

Asuncion also encouraged the public not to hesitate to bring immediately any sick family member for medical consultation or those having fever within two days to check whether it is dengue or not.

The health official cited the need for close coordination at the barangay level or within the community in the campaign against dengue.

She added that it is also important to report right away any suspected dengue case, especially now that it is dengue season. Dengue usually peaks during the rainy season.

The DOH anti-dengue campaign is anchored on 4S which means: Search and destroy to eliminate all the possible breeding sites of the mosquito that carries the dengue virus; Self protection or measures to protect people from mosquito bites; Seek early treatment; and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.

source: interaksyon.com

Dengue kills two children in Negros Oriental

Dengue remained a major threat to several parts of the country even before the onset of the rainy season, with two preschool children in Negros Oriental among the latest fatalities.

The Department of Health in Negros Oriental also said the number of cases increased with the early onset of the rainy season, news site Visayan Daily Star reported Wednesday.

Provincial DOH head Dr. Socrates Villamor said that as of May 15, the total number of confirmed dengue cases in Negros Oriental had reached 235.

Villamor described the fatalities as a five-year-old girl from Sibulan town who died last January; and a three-year-old from Bacong, who died last week.

He also noted a 33-percent increase this year, compared to the 177 cases with no deaths in the same period last year.

Dumaguete City topped the list of local government units with the most number of dengue cases at 109; Bayawan City with 23; Tanjay, 19; Bais, 10; Bacong, nine; Sibulan, eight; Manjuyod and San Jose, seven cases each; and Dauin and Guihulngan, with six cases each.

The towns of Amlan, Vallehermoso, La Libertad and Jimalalud had no dengue cases reported for the same period, while the rest of the LGUs had five cases and below, Villamor said.

But he allayed fears of an epidemic, saying the increase was expected because of the rainy season.

Meanwhile, Villamor reminded the public to adopt the government’s 4S strategy in combating dengue – Search and Destroy breeding places of dengue mosquito vectors; Seek early consultation; adopt Self-Protection measures like the use of insect repellant lotion; and Say No to indiscriminate fogging.


Residents who manifest symptoms of high fever, rashes and nausea must consult a physician immediately. — LBG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com