Japan tackles first dengue fever outbreak in 70 years

[webfact]

Japan tackles first dengue fever outbreak in 70 years

(BBC) Japan is battling its first outbreak of dengue fever in almost 70 years, with at least 22 people confirmed as being infected.

The health ministry said the cases were believed to have been contracted by visitors to Tokyo's popular Yoyogi Park.

An outbreak of dengue fever was last recorded in Japan in 1945.

The tropical disease, which is spread by mosquitoes, causes symptoms like high fever and severe joint pain.

Severe cases may require hospital treatment and can occasionally develop into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue, according to the World Health Organisation.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29026023


-- BBC 2014-09-02

[timmyp]

The Japanese news and net forums are saying that foreigners brought dengue back to Japan. There was an ASEAN festival at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo back in June, among other events featuring international crowds, and this is blamed for the outbreak.

One gets pretty sick of foreigners being blamed for a nation's problems, but then again, sometimes the foreigners are to blame!

What to do...

[Roota]

One gets pretty sick of foreigners being blamed for a nation's problems, but then again, sometimes the foreigners are to blame!

I doubt if they can ever know these days, as hundreds of cases of dengue are brought back to Japan every year by both Japanese and non-Japanese. But last time (1942-45) there wasn't much doubt that it was due to repatriated Japanese soldiers. In fact they also spread it to China, not that you'll ever read that in any Japanese textbook.

[sae57]

The Japanese news and net forums are saying that foreigners brought dengue back to Japan. There was an ASEAN festival at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo back in June, among other events featuring international crowds, and this is blamed for the outbreak.

One gets pretty sick of foreigners being blamed for a nation's problems, but then again, sometimes the foreigners are to blame!

What to do...

One of the costs of globalization.

[Codesh]

The cold weather later on will kill of the mosses for months. I guess that will be the end of this outbreak, although international travel means it can easily return. That's why Ebola is so scary. Easily carried around the world before the carrier gets sick with its long and variable incubation period.

[Keesters]

Japan: no dengue for 70 years. Thailand could sure learn a thing or two from them to help eradicate it here.

But will they ask? Probably not. Thailand's answer to Dengue and the like is to issue public announcements/warnings but do nothing to eradicate the problem. Not seen spraying in Pattaya for years while every year many suffer with Dengue and some die of it. My only hope is that the Mayor or a close relative catches it then something might get done.