TOKYO, September 1 (RIA Novosti) - An outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever has already affected 22 people in Japan, the nation’s Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry confirmed Monday.
The first cases of dengue fever were registered at the end of August, when three people were found to have contracted the disease. Later on, 19 other cases were also confirmed.
The majority of affected people visited the Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park, where they are believed to have been bitten by mosquitoes infected with the dangerous virus.
Tokyo officials have sprayed over 800 liters of pesticide in the park in an attempt to kill the insects.
The Heath, Labor and Welfare Ministry instructed all 47 of Japan’s prefectural governments to report any suspicious cases.
Fifty to 100 million people living in tropical or subtropical areas become infected with dengue fever each year.
The disease is carried by the tiger mosquito and cannot be transmitted directly from person to person.
Symptoms may include mild fever, headaches, pain behind the eyes, vomiting and muscle pain, or even high fever and massive bleeding, which can be life-threatening.
Sometimes, infections can develop into a complication called dengue shock syndrome.
There is no vaccine or any specific medicine to treat dengue, so Japan’s health authorities advise patients to rest, drink plenty of fluids and try to reduce the fever using available drugs.
