Korean Nationals’ Deaths from Dengue Fever in Bangladesh Raises Concerns
By Seo Da-min, Correspondent
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have reported the deaths of Korean nationals from dengue fever during their business trips to Bangladesh. In light of this, they have released information about the current trend of dengue fever cases and prevention guidelines for residents of countries affected by the disease, such as Southeast Asia and Central and South America, as well as those planning to visit these regions.
The latest case involved a Korean citizen who frequently visited Bangladesh and Africa for business purposes, rather than a local resident in Bangladesh. Dengue fever is an infectious disease transmitted through the bite of mosquitoes infected with the dengue virus, specifically the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species. Symptoms, including fever, headache, chills, and muscle pain, typically appear after an incubation period of 5 to 7 days. As there is currently no effective vaccine or treatment for dengue fever, prevention measures, such as avoiding mosquito bites, are crucial.
Furthermore, it is important to exercise extra caution if one has a history of dengue fever infection or frequently visits areas where the disease is prevalent. When infected with a different serotype of the dengue virus, the risk of developing severe dengue fever, such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, increases. In such cases, the fatality rate can reach up to 5%.
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), dengue fever has already caused over 3.7 million cases and around 2,000 deaths in 70 countries worldwide as of August 23. Due to an unusual increase in precipitation leading to higher temperatures and humidity, mosquito populations carrying the dengue virus have rapidly multiplied in Southeast Asia (Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam) and South- west Asia (Bangladesh, India). Consequently, the number of patients and fatalities has surged.
In Bangladesh, where Korean nationals have tragically lost their lives, there have been approximately 106,000 reported cases and about 500 deaths as of August this year. The World Health Organization warns that the changing dominant serotype of dengue fever in Bangladesh (from DENV3 to DENV2) could potentially lead to more severe cases.
Thus far, dengue fever has not been endemic in Korea, with most cases being imported from countries experiencing outbreaks. However, this year has seen a notable increase in the number of dengue fever cases among Koreans, with 107 reported patients as of August 26, marking a 3.2-fold increase compared to the same period last year. The majority of infections have occurred in Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported among the Korean patients.
Ji Young-mi, the director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stresses the importance of taking preventive measures for dengue fever, especially for those staying or planning to visit countries at risk. These measures include using mosquito repellent products, such as repellent sprays and mosquito nets, wearing long and brightly-colored clothing, and reapplying mosquito repellents every 3 to 4 hours.
As an additional precaution, free preventive tests for dengue fever are available at major national quarantine stations from July to November. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Safe Travel website, the country’s official foreign travel website, and various social media platforms will also provide comprehensive information about dengue fever risk countries and safety precautions. Consular assistance will be provided if necessary to Koreans encountering incidents or accidents related to dengue fever while abroad.
Countries and regions with dengue fever outbreaks in August (Photo = provided by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
[동양뉴스] Correspondent Seo Da-min = The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently announced dengue fever deaths in Korean nationals who visited Bangladesh for business purposes, and provided information on the trends of dengue fever cases and prevention guidelines for foreign residents of countries affected by dengue fever such as Southeast Asia and Central and South America and those planning to visit the region.
According to the Agency for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 1st, the case that died this time is not a local resident in Bangladesh, but a Korean citizen who often visited Bangladesh and Africa to business purposes.
Dengue fever is an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes infected with the dengue virus (mosquito aedes aegypti, mosquito aedes aegypti), and after an incubation period of 5 to 7 days, symptoms such as fever, headache, chills , and muscle pain appears. There is no effective vaccine or treatment yet, so prevention such as preventing mosquito bites is very important.
In particular, since the death rate of dengue fever increases rapidly after re-infection, special attention is needed if you have a history of dengue fever infection or if you frequently visit areas where dengue fever is endemic. Dengue virus has a total of four serotypes, and when reinfected with another serotype, it can progress to severe dengue fever (dengue hemorrhagic fever, dengue shock syndrome, etc.), in which case the death rate reaches about 5%.
As of 23 August, dengue fever has caused more than 3.7 million cases in 70 countries worldwide, and around 2,000 deaths (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, ECDC). In particular, this year, as the temperature and humidity rose due to an unusual increase in precipitation, the density of mosquito vectors increased rapidly in Southeast Asia (Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.) and South- west Asia (Bangladesh, India, etc.), resulting in patients and deaths also spreading rapidly.
As of August this year, Bangladesh, where the deaths of Korean citizens occurred, had about 106,000 patients and about 500 deaths. The World Health Organization assessed that the possibility of serious cases due to re-infection could increase as the dominant serotype of dengue fever in Bangladesh changed (DENV3 → DENV2) this year.
So far, dengue fever has not occurred in Korea itself, and most of them were infected after visiting countries with epidemics. On 26 August, there were 107 patients with dengue fever this year, an increase of 3.2 times more compared to the same period last year. The main infected countries were Southeast Asian regions such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia. However, there have been no deaths from dengue among the patients reported to date.
Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Ji Young-mi said, “People staying in or planning to visit dengue fever risk countries prepare mosquito repellent products (mosquito repellent, mosquito net, etc. ) to prevent dengue fever, wear bright long clothes and use mosquito repellents (3~4 hours apart), etc., it is important not to be bitten by mosquitoes.
In addition, “From July to November, preventive tests for dengue fever are provided free of charge at major national quarantine stations. I recommend you to see it,” he said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Park Jin said, “We will post information about dengue fever risk countries and related information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Safe Travel website, the country’s foreign travel website, and social media to guide Korean citizens on safe travel information and precautions. ” “We will continue to monitor incidents and accidents related to dengue fever among Koreans abroad, and provide consular assistance if necessary.”
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