Tanzania confirmed 11 cases of dengue fever outbreak

Tanzania, the East African country has confirmed the outbreak of dengue fever in the commercial capital city Dar es Salaam, adding that 11 people have been diagnosed so far.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection. This may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash.

Mpoki Ulisubisya, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health told, Dar es Salaam."The ministry is aware of the outbreak of dengue fever in Dar es Salaam and 11 patients have been diagnosed with the disease, the government has started to take control measures to check the disease from spreading further."

The measures included a public awareness campaign to be implemented in tandem with surveillance throughout the East African nation, he further added.

The Health Ministry has teamed up with the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), largest public health research institute in Tanzania and two other clinics to provide the diagnosis of the dengue fever.

The last worst outbreak of the dengue fever was in 2014 when nearly 400 patients in Dar es Salaam were diagnosed with the disease, followed by the death of at least three, including a doctor.

Dengue fever is believed to infect 390 million people worldwide a year with half million life-threatening infections and is particularly prevalent on the east African coast.

There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below one percent. Dengue prevention and control depends on effective vector control measures