Breaking the fault zone: Dengue fever is not a tropic “patent”
In public perception, dengue fever appears to be a disease unique to tropical areas. However, this is a complete error. With the acceleration of the globalization process, the frequency of population movements and climate change, dengue fever has already broken geographical limits and appeared in more parts of the world.
Dengue fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the dengue virus and is transmitted mainly through the bites of the Egyptian aphids and the white-edged aphids. In the tropics, high-temperature, rain-fed climates and an environment suitable for mosquito breeding do provide “hotbeds” for the spread of dengue fever. But that does not mean that other regions will be safe. Cases of dengue fever have been reported in recent years in subtropical areas and even in some temperate areas. In our coastal areas, such as Guangdong and Fujian, there has also been a local epidemic of dengue fever during the summer mosquito season. In cities in some non-traditional tropical regions, the spread of dengue fever has been made possible by the poor management of water accumulation in urban construction and by the frequent introduction of viruses from international contacts. Once people with the virus enter these areas, the local aphid bite may trigger a dengue outbreak in the population.
Dengue fever is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including high heat, headaches, muscle and joint pains, and rashes, which can cause haemorrhage, shock or even endanger life in serious cases. If dengue fever is mistakenly assumed to occur only in the tropics, when associated symptoms occur in non-tropical areas, it can delay diagnosis and treatment and expose patients to greater health risks. This poses a serious threat not only to the health of individuals but also to local public health events, placing a heavy burden on society.
The key to the prevention of dengue fever is protection against mosquitoes. Personal protection should be provided wherever the mosquito is active during the season. The installation of veils, the use of mosquito nets, the wearing of long-sleeved trousers and the spraying of mosquito repellents at home reduce the risk of mosquito bites. At the same time, communities and relevant sectors should strengthen environmental governance, clean up water in time and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. For those with plans to travel abroad, especially to areas where dengue fever is endemic, it is important to know the local epidemic well in advance and to take precautions to avoid taking the virus home.
Moreover, the increase in the greening of cities, while aestheticizing the environment, could become a refuge for mosquitoes if poorly managed. Artificial landscape facilities, such as fountains, landscape pools, etc., can easily become breeding sites for mosquitoes without regular maintenance and water exchange. The dengue virus is more capable of survival in a suitable environment and, even in non-tropical areas, it can trigger the spread of the epidemic once the vector and source of the virus are available. We must move away from the misconception that dengue fever only occurs in the tropics, raise awareness and vigilance and take proactive measures to prevent it, if we are to effectively curb its spread and safeguard our own health and that of the public. Let the right perception be our powerful weapon against infectious diseases and, in the field of global public health, not be misled by misconceptions to build a healthy and safe living environment. Let the right perception be our powerful weapon against infectious diseases and, in the field of global public health, not be misled by misconceptions to build a healthy and safe living environment.
