Africa: Dengue and Zika in Mali
Dengue fever
The Mali Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 377 additional dengue fever cases (63 confirmed, 314 suspected), including 15 deaths since December 1.
Cumulatively, since the beginning of the year, the MOH has reported 4,781 cases (600 confirmed and 4,181 suspected) and 21 deaths were reported from six of the eight regions and the capital district of Barnako.
Officials have identified two dengue serotypes in this outbreak: DENV-1 and DENV-3.
Dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites. The disease can take up to 2 weeks to develop with illness generally lasting less than a week.
Health effects from dengue include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle and joint pain, and minor bleeding.
Dengue can become severe within a few hours. Severe dengue is a medical emergency, usually requiring hospitalization.
In severe cases, health effects can include hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding), shock (seriously low blood pressure), organ failure, and death.
Zika virus
In addition, the MOH reported 12 confirmed Zika cases this month from the Barnako region.
Samples were collected from patients from the Point G hospital during the first week of December when 12 tested positive for Zika and two for Zika and dengue.
Zika is generally a mild disease. It may cause a viral fever similar to dengue or chikungunya, with fever, skin rashes, body aches, and headache. But many people infected with the Zika virus infection do not even develop symptoms.
The real concern is among pregnant women as the virus can cause microcephaly, a neurological disorder that results in babies being born with abnormally small heads, which in turn can cause severe developmental issues and sometimes death. A Zika infection may cause other birth defects, including eye problems, hearing loss and impaired growth.
Pregnant women with symptoms of possible Zika virus infection (fever and rash and other symptoms such as red eyes or joint pain) should seek medical attention immediately.