An outbreak of dengue fever has resulted in the loss of 356 lives in Burkina Faso between mid-October and mid-November, bringing the total number of deaths to 570 since the beginning of the year, as confirmed by a health ministry official.
The Centre des opérations de réponses aux urgences sanitaires (Corus) director, medical biologist Joseph Soubeiga, disclosed that from 1st January to 19th November, a staggering 123,804 suspected cases of dengue fever were reported, including 56,637 probable cases, with a case-fatality rate of 1%. This influx of cases is markedly higher, with a drastic increase from the 214 deaths reported by 15th October to 356 deaths between 15th October and 19th November.
During the 13th to 19th November period alone, 59 deaths were recorded, with an additional 13,896 suspected cases of dengue fever, including 6,829 probable cases and 1,101 serious cases requiring hospitalization.
To combat the rapid spread of the epidemic, the government has initiated an anti-mosquito spraying campaign in the two main affected towns: the capital Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. This campaign has already treated 1,642 homes of patients and neighbouring residences, along with 696 public spaces.
Although Burkina Faso has experienced isolated cases of dengue fever since the 1960s, the year 2017 marked the first recorded epidemic with 13 fatalities. Dengue fever, which exhibits similar symptoms to malaria, is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that it causes between 100 and 400 million infections annually, primarily in hot countries, especially in urban and semi-urban areas.
Dengue fever symptoms encompass high fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and in severe cases, potential hemorrhaging leading to fatality.
The situation in Burkina Faso underscores the urgent need for heightened awareness and proactive measures to combat the spread of dengue fever, protecting the population from its devastating consequences.
