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Iran’s health official: Dengue fever death rate 1%
Farshid Rezaei, director of the Health Education and Promotion Office at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said that educational packages about dengue fever are being developed for travelers, medical staff, and journalists, IRNA wrote.
Rezaei stated that there are no travel restrictions due to the fever, but advised travelers, especially those visiting countries like the UAE and Thailand, to be aware of self-care practices to prevent mosquito bites and infection.
He emphasized that 40% to 80% of patients infected with dengue fever show no symptoms, and adhering to hygienic practices can reduce the risk of infection by up to 70%.
Rezaei recommended that Iranians traveling to high-risk provinces, mostly in the southern regions, take necessary precautions such as wearing socks, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and using insect repellents.
Dengue fever is caused by a flavivirus with four different types, meaning a person can be infected up to four times. The virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which also carry the Zika and chikungunya viruses.
Since April, 138 cases of dengue fever have been identified in Iran, with the majority of infections originating from other countries like the UAE, Pakistan, and Iraq. Only seven cases were domestically transmitted. The provinces of Hormuzgan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Bushehr, and Gilan are currently dealing with the disease, while Mazandaran and Golestan are at risk.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Education has emphasized that controlling the Aedes mosquito requires a collaborative effort from various organizations, including the governors, civil defense organizations, customs, and border guards, in addition to the ministry’s own efforts.
In recent years, dengue fever has been prevalent in the Pakistani city of Panjgur, located less than 200 kilometers from the Iranian border and a common route for Arbaeen pilgrims.
Iran began monitoring the disease in 2016 and identified the Aedes mosquito in 2019.
The Aedes mosquito is a known carrier of several diseases and can infect multiple individuals through its bite, posing a significant health risk.