Burkina Faso - Dengue outbreak 2023

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High cases of dengue fever in Bobo-Dioulasso: Attention to environmental hygiene and self-medication

Posted on Monday, September 4, 2023 at 11:10 p.m.


In a note dated August 11, 2023, the head of department of the Sourô Sanou University Hospital Center (CHUSS) alerted staff to the meteoric rise in the number of dengue cases in Bobo-Dioulasso. Several reasons, including environmental hygiene and the species of mosquito, are given by Professor Samdpawindé Macaire Ouédraogo, President of the Internal Medicine Society of Burkina Faso, Full Professor of Internal Medicine, Head of Internal Medicine and CHUSS quality, specialist in public health and community medicine issues.
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According to an information note dated August 11, 2023 at the level of the CHUSS, staff were questioned about the growth of dengue in Bobo-Dioulasso, what are the reasons for this high number of dengue cases precisely in this city?

Indeed we had a re-emergence, or epidemic outbreaks of cases in Bobo. We believe environmental sanitation has a lot to do with it. When the level of hygiene deteriorates in certain neighborhoods, it can lead to a high propensity for the hatching of Aedes aegypti or albopictus mosquito eggs.

Thus, the lack of sanitation in the environment, the lack of hygiene in certain districts, can be precisely the source of the occurrence of an epidemic. When there were these cases, the hospital recorded many suspected cases with positive tests.
The whole entourage of these positive cases was exposed, since the patients very often arrive without any measure tending to prevent the contamination of this immediate entourage. So the propagation was very fast to the point that we had a break in tests at some point. This is partly what explains this outbreak of dengue cases in Bobo-Dioulasso. The control of this outbreak lies in the strengthening of the preventive measures mentioned above at the individual and collective level.

Health facilities should be used as soon as the symptoms of suspected dengue cases mentioned above appear.
The use of self-medication or traditional treatment will only facilitate the spread of the disease through delayed diagnosis and non-compliance with medical instructions related to the adoption of hygienic behavior aimed at reducing new infestations.

What are the current statistics in Hauts-Bassins?

In week 33 from August 14 to 20, there were 26 probable cases of dengue (TDR+) in Bobo-Dioulasso, including 2 deaths.
Dengue, which is an arbovirosis, has a similarity with other hemorrhagic viral fevers such as yellow fever, the zika virus…and rapid tests do not allow confirmation of the type of infection.

In the face of a probable case with a positive TDR, the sample must be sent to the national and sub-regional laboratory for the surveillance of viral haemorrhagic fevers LNR-FHV laboratory P3 at the Muraz Center in Bobo-Dioulasso for confirmation.
This is what will make it possible to be able to say that it is indeed this disease and to confirm or invalidate it. The national health reference must therefore be well organized so that the samples taken can reach these reference laboratories so that we can have clear seroprevalence figures. Otherwise we will always only have suspected cases or probable cases as since 2017 when there have been nearly 6,000 or 7,000 cases, approximately 36 deaths; but all this is only suspicion.

Currently there is the National Center for Training and Research on Malaria which is working on these seroprevalence figures from reference laboratories to have clear data on the disease. But to date, globally, we know that each year, there are nearly 400 million new cases with about 100 million cases where we manage to confirm.

We also know that in Burkina Faso, stereotype 3 has been confirmed, which is rare in other regions. So the data is old and must be updated by the end of 2023. There is already the seroprevalence study project underway since 2021 and which must be completed by the end of 2023 and led by the National Center for Training and Research on malaria. So based on the cases of suspicion that we have, perhaps we will now have updated figures in relation to this disease which is rife in Burkina.

Haoua Touré
Lefaso.net

https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article124062

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Epidemic "There is an abnormal increase in dengue cases" (Minister of Health)

Posted Thursday September 7th, 2023 | aOuaga.com

The Minister in charge of Health made an oral communication to the Council on the epidemiological situation of dengue fever. The ministry says it has seen an abnormal increase in dengue fever cases in recent weeks, mainly in the Hauts-Bassins and Center regions. According to Minister Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, more than 2,000 probable cases have been notified in recent days. Investigations have been carried out and the epidemic confirmed in the Hauts-Bassins region, particularly in the city of Bobo Dioulasso and a rise in power in the central region, precisely in Ouagadougou.

Minister Kargougou indicated that "the Council gave instructions which call for a reinforcement of communication, of sensitization towards the populations so that they can observe individual and collective measures of protection”.

In addition, the 15,000 community-based health workers recruited last May will be called upon to destroy breeding sites in major cities.

The Head of the Department of Health did not fail to recall some protective measures in this case the fight against mosquitoes, vectors of the disease. It is necessary, for this purpose, to eliminate stagnant water, at home and around you, to destroy the tires (even those used as a roundabout at certain arteries of the city are threats), the canaries and the worn flower pots lying around in the concessions and which constitute shelters for mosquitoes. It is also necessary to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by sleeping under an impregnated mosquito net, by wearing long-sleeved clothes and by using mosquito repellents. As a reminder, dengue fever is a viral infection caused by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, also called the “tiger” mosquito.

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Halima K

http://news.aouaga.com/h/150210.html

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Health in Burkina Faso: A Dengue epidemic is looming, according to Dr. Abdoul Aziz Ouédraogo

Akim Ky
5 hours ago

Dengue fever has been resurgent in Burkina Faso since 2016, according to Dr. Abdoul Aziz Ouédraogo, chief medical officer of the Boulmiougou health district, who described the state of play of this pathology in the process of becoming an epidemic in Burkina during this year. 2023.

Between August 28 and September 3, 2023, 703 probable cases of dengue fever were recorded in Burkina Faso, including 330 in the Central region and 329 in the Hauts-Bassins region, according to Dr. Abdoul Aziz Ouédraogo, chief medical officer. of the Boulmiougou health district.

“ 15 deaths were recorded over the same period, including six in the Hauts-Bassins and three in the Center. Since the start of the year, a total of 3,335 probable cases, including 2,037 in the Center region and 1,034 in the Hauts-Bassins region, have been recorded,” he says .

There are four serotypes which are DENV1, DENV2, DENV3 and DENV4 according to Wendkouni Abdoul Aziz Ouédraogo who warns that the immunity conferred by one serotype is definitive, but it does not protect against other serotypes.

According to the explanations of Doctor Wendkouni Abdoul Aziz Ouédraogo, we speak of a probable case when the patient tests positive for dengue thanks to a test recognized by health laboratories and presents several symptoms.
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Akim KY

Burkina 24

https://burkina24.com/2023/09/10/sante-au-burkina-faso-une-epidemie-de-dengue-sannonce-selon-le-dr-abdoul-aziz-ouedraogo/

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Burkina: around fifty deaths due to dengue

BURKINA FASO
APA - Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)By APA - OUAGADOUGOU (BURKINA FASO) September 18, 2023

Burkina has recorded several thousand cases of dengue fever, causing dozens of deaths in the country's two main cities.

In the Center region which is home to the capital Ouagadougou, “we have a cumulative number of 5,907 suspected cases with 2,565 probable cases,” reported Dr. Hamed Ouédraogo, director of Population Health Protection at the Ministry of Health.

As for the Hauts-Bassins region (Bobo-Dioulasso, economic capital), “we have 4,268 suspected cases and 1,674 probable cases,” added the doctor, explaining that a “suspected case” is a patient who presents symptoms . and on which health tests have not yet been carried out.

The two regions are the most affected by dengue fever in 2023. The disease caused the death of 49 people, including 38 in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso alone, said Dr Ouédraogo.

The director of population health protection highlighted an “epidemic outbreak” during this rainy season.

“ To the populations, I would like everyone to start looking at their household and their living environment, trying to eliminate everything that is used tires, jars, hand wash basins that we no longer use,” said Dr Hamed Ouédraogo.

In public services and businesses, he suggested the use of insecticides.
Dr Ouédraogo also advised “going to a health center as soon as you have a persistent fever, orbital pain or muscle pain”.

SD/ac/APA

https://fr.apanews.net/health/burkina-une-cinquantaine-de-deces-dues-a-la-dengue/

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 38: 18 - 24 September 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 24 September 2023
...

Burkina Faso

Dengue

6 703 suspected cases
128 Confirmed Cases
48 Deaths
Grade 2

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The dengue outbreak in Burkina Faso remains a
significant and persistent public health challenge
since January 2023. The number of reported cases
has witnessed a surge of cases from a mere six cases
in Epidemiological Week 29 (ending July 22, 2023) to
a staggering 708 cases by Epidemiological Week 36
(week ending September 9).

The latest figures from September 19, 2023, alone,
indicate 221 new suspected cases, including 42
probable cases, and 8 deaths reported. Most of the
new cases were reported from Do district, 102 (46.2%)
with suspected cases and 16 (38.1%), probable cases
followed by Dafra with 97, (43.3%) suspected cases and
14 (33.3%) probable cases.

From the beginning of the outbreak in January to
September 19, 2023, a total of 6 703 suspected cases
have been documented, with 2 494 probable cases
and 48 fatalities. The Dengue outbreak in Burkina Faso
is confined to the eight districts of the Hauts-Bassins
region in the Western part of the country.

Do district remains the most heavily affected, reporting 3
344 (49.9%) suspected cases, including 1 169 (46.9%)
probable cases and 10 deaths. Following closely is
Dafra district with 2 668 (39.8%), suspected cases which
includes 888 probable cases and four deaths, Hounde
district with 222 (3.3%) suspected cases , including 136
probable cases (5.5%) and Centre University Hospital
reporting 412 (6.1%) and 279 (11.2%) of the total
suspected and total probable cases respectively.

The four remaining districts, namely Dande, Kulgué,
Orodara, and N’dorola, have reported 56 (0.8%)
suspected cases in total, averaging 14 cases per district.
Lena district is the least affected, with one suspected
case.

Of the 198 samples from suspected cases that were
tested with either PCR or IgM, 128 were positive for
dengue, resulting in a positivity ratio of 64.6%.
Females have been disproportionately affected,
constituting 53% of the total cases, as compared to
males (47%). The highest number of cases falls within
the 20-29 age group (30%), followed by the 30-39 age
group (21%).

Excluding the Hauts Bassins region, which was declared
as the outbreak epicentre, the remaining 12 regions have
reported increasing trends in suspected dengue cases,
with close to 5 000 suspected cases. However, these
cases have not yet been confirmed as dengue through
laboratory analysis.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Coordination: The response coordination is being led
at the regional level, with oversight and coordination
at the national level. The Regional Health Emergency
Operation Center was activated on August 23, and an
incident manager has been appointed to coordinate
response activities. Daily situational reports are
distributed to all relevant stakeholders. In addition,
the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene provides
regular briefings on the evolving epidemic situation.
Mobilization of resources for the response is currently
underway. Médecins Sans Frontières has generously
contributed two blood bank refrigerators.

Surveillance: activities including, dissemination
of Dengue case definitions and Dengue control
guidelines in both private and public health facilities
are ongoing. Identification and elimination of larval
breeding sites within households in Dô and Dafra
districts have been carried out with support from Red
Cross and Volunteers of the National Association of
Scouts and Guides. Analysis of epidemiological,
clinical, biological and environmental data undertaken
for appropriate response

Laboratory activities: Collection and investigation of
samples of suspected cases from affected district,

Case management: Management of suspected,
probable and confirmed cases ongoing in health
facilities

Risk communication: Dengue awareness-raising
efforts are consistently conducted within the
population. An official launch of anti-larval days
took place on September 18 in Bobo-Dioulasso.
Key messages are being disseminated in the most
affected areas, and radio broadcasts are being
produced and aired on various radio stations to
enhance public awareness and provide education on
dengue prevention and control.

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/burkina-faso/publication/outbreaks-and-emergencies-bulletin-week-38-18-24-september-2023

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Burkina: dengue epidemic kills more than 200 people

By APA - OUAGADOUGOU (BURKINA FASO) October 19, 2023

The Burkinabe government has announced free rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) for dengue fever.

The Minister of Health, Dr Lucien Kargougou, has noted an “outbreak” of dengue cases in Burkina Faso, particularly in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso.

He said that 50,478 suspected cases were reported from January 1 to October 15, 2023. Of these, 25,502 cases were found probable, resulting in the deaths of 214 people.

“For the period from October 9 to 15, 2023 alone, a number of 10,117 suspected cases were reported, including 4,377 probable cases and 48 deaths,” added the Minister of Health.

The Central region including Ouagadougou recorded the highest number of suspected cases of dengue fever, followed by the Hauts-Bassins region including Bobo-Dioulasso.

Faced with the “epidemiological outbreak” of cases, the government has decided to make rapid screening tests (RDT) free in public health structures. Minister Kargougou invited people to go there for effective treatment of this disease.

“To control the epidemiological situation, other actions are being carried out, in particular the training of health personnel, the strengthening of the capacities of health structures in rapid screening tests and the continuation of intra-domestic and spatial spraying operations in Bobo -Dioulasso and Ouagadougou,” he said.

SD/te/APA

https://fr.apanews.net/now/burkina-une-epidemie-de-dengue-fait-plus-de-200-morts/

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Burkina Faso/Dengue epidemic: “We have not reached the epidemiological peak” (Dr Yerbanga, Regional Director of Health of the Center)

Prisca F. KONKOBOOctober 25, 2023

The last dengue epidemic in Burkina Faso dates back to 2017. It recorded 15,074 suspected cases including 8,768 probable cases and 36 deaths. Since August 2023, the dengue epidemic has broken out again, recording 65,774 suspected cases on Burkina Faso territory, including 27,540 probable cases and 274 deaths, according to the weekly epidemiological bulletin of October 22, 2023.
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During week forty-two (S42) of the year 2023, i.e. from October 16 to 22, 14,296 suspected cases of dengue fever including 6,038 probable cases and 60 deaths were reported by all health structures in the country. Probable cases of dengue were reported mainly by the Center and Hauts-Bassins regions, respectively 4145 (68.6%) and 986 (16.3%) of the total probable cases.
...
Dengue surveillance situation in the Central region at week 42

Despite this surge in cases, for Dr Daniel Yerbanga, regional director of public hygiene at the Center, we cannot say that the disease has reached its epidemiological peak in this region. “ We say that the epidemic is at its peak when we see the highest point and a decline. We don't have the hang of it yet. We are still following the evolving trend. It is when we see that the curve begins to bend that we can detect the epidemiological peak. For the moment, week after week, the number of cases is increasing,” he says.
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Measures taken to stop the disease

The Ministry of Health, to stem the epidemic, has implemented several strategies in recent weeks. These include, among others, space spraying and free rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Other actions have been carried out and are underway according to the regional director of Health and Public Hygiene of the Central region. “ There have been awareness-raising actions, notably involving community leaders, trader associations, market and yaar managers and women’s associations ,” says Doctor Daniel Yerbanga.

The Ouagadougou Green Brigade will also be formed in the days to come, in order to help destroy or fill in spaces that can constitute larval breeding sites in the city of Ouagadougou.

If you look for RDTs in the CSPS, you will not find them

The Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene announced on October 17 that dengue RDT tests will be free until the end of the epidemic. Some information mentions the breakdown of RDT tests in health centers.

Dr Daniel Yerbanga is categorical. There is no break. “ The medical centers named in the note have been provided with RDTs and we monitor the availability of these RDTs every day. Apart from that, we have enlisted certain large CSPS to give them the TDRs because we know that the attendance is significant,” he says.

Indeed, according to the Ministry of Health, free RDT rapid diagnostic tests for dengue concern “ public health structures, in particular university hospital centers (CHU), regional hospital centers, medical centers with surgical antenna (CMA ) and Medical Centers (CM)”.

However, measures are being taken according to the regional director of health and public hygiene, to ensure the availability of RDT tests in CSPS

Avoid self-medication at all costs

To stop the dengue epidemic, the first action is to destroy the larval breeding grounds. Each citizen is called upon to carry out hygiene and sanitation actions around them. “Let’s avoid stagnant water, the flow of water around our concessions,” insists Dr Daniel Yerbanga.

Furthermore, in the event of symptoms, the patient must immediately go to a health center. “ The number of deaths is increasing because we generally see people late and when it’s late, the body is already starting to suffer, so it’s difficult,” insists the Regional Director of Health and Public Hygiene of the Center.

“ Treatment given in health centers prevents the disease from progressing to its most serious forms. These are treatments that calm pain and strengthen the immune system. It is not a specific treatment to cure the disease,” he explains. Self-medication should be avoided, whether modern or traditional. The medications to be avoided are anti-inflammatories because they promote cases of bleeding.

Dengue is caused by a virus with 4 serotypes: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4. Recovery results in lifelong immunity against the serotype causing the infection. The disease affects all ages of life.

https://www.24heures.bf/burkina-faso-epidemie-de-dengue-nous-navons-pas-atteint-le-pic-epidemiologique-dr-yerbanga-directeur-regional-de-la-sante-du-centre/

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Fight against dengue fever in Burkina Faso: Soon drones in the air for spraying operations

Willy SAGBE 14 hours ago
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The ministry in charge of health is going to war against mosquitoes as part of these response actions against the dengue epidemic which has already caused 421 deaths in Burkina Faso as of today.

The country's two major cities, Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, remain the most affected. Out of 95,785 suspected cases, more than 42,516 probable cases tested positive for dengue throughout the national territory.

This supervision of spraying operations in the field with the Russian medical team allows, according to the Minister in charge of health, Dr Robert Kargougou, these Russian doctors to see what is being done in terms of spraying and present to them the different challenges facing the country faces in order to benefit from their support.

“ And I can assure you that we had an attentive ear from them to be able to support us in terms of logistics so that we could increase the number of devices and also the number of logistics to be able to respond effectively,” he said . he implied.

Minister Kargougou announced the intensification of these spraying operations in Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou which so far remain the cities most affected by the epidemic.

“ Already in recent days, we have acquired even more semi-motorized spraying devices which we have made available to the teams in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. And we have also acquired more mobile spraying devices which allows us to do special spraying ,” he confided.

Beyond that, Dr Kargougou announced that his department expects in the coming days after consultation with security services, they will launch drones into the air for spraying operations.

“ So I am announcing that in the next few days, we will further intensify this indoor spraying, this special spraying so that we can truly counter this epidemic ,” he reassured.

These operations have positive repercussions, according to Robert Kargougou. “ The Impact is visible. It is true that the epidemic remains active but we can safely say that if we had not launched indoor spraying and spatial spraying, we would certainly have had even more cases,” he said . asserted.

The minister concluded his remarks by inviting the Burkinabè to be clean around them and to clean up their environment so as not to allow the multiplication of mosquitoes which are the basis of this disease.

https://burkina24.com/2023/11/13/lutte-contre-la-dengue-au-burkina-faso-bientot-des-drones-dans-les-airs-pour-des-operations-de-pulverisation/

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BURKINA: DENGUE EPIDEMIC, MANY SERIOUS CASES LINKED TO SELF-MEDICATION

Published on :
Thu November 16, 2023

The majority of serious cases of dengue are linked to self-medication and herbal medicine, said on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, the technical director of the Health Emergency Response Operations Center (CORUS), Dr. Joseph Soubeiga.

By Daouda Kiekieta

The dengue epidemic continues to rage in Burkina Faso. 511 cases of deaths linked to dengue were recorded as of November 12, 2023, according to the Health Emergency Response Operations Center (CORUS).

Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso remain the most affected cities in the country with 220 and 168 cases of death respectively. Across the country, 109,908 suspected cases including 49,808 probable cases.

According to the technical director of the Health Emergency Response Operations Center (CORUS), Dr. Joseph Soubeiga, many serious hospitalized cases are linked to self-medication and herbal medicine.

Dr Soubeiga urged the population to go to health facilities for the treatment of dengue fever, ensuring that “the State has sufficient stock to meet the expectations of the population” in terms of diagnostic tests.

“The Ministry of Health has declared free RDTs at the level of medical centers, CMAs, hospitals. Currently, we do not have a problem with the availability of RDTs for rapid diagnostic tests in these centers ,” he said during a visit to public health centers in Ouagadougou.
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https://libreinfo.net/burkina-dengue-automedication/

[Shiloh]

Source: https://istoe.com.br/mais-de-350-mor...-burkina-faso/

More than 350 dengue deaths in one month in Burkina Faso
AFPi
24/11/2023 - 12:40

An epidemic of dengue, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes, left 356 dead in Burkina Faso between mid-October and mid-November, with a death toll of 570 since January 1, an establishment dependent on the Ministry announced this Friday (24). of health.

From January 1st to November 19th, the Health Emergency Response Operations Center (Corus) registered “123,804 suspected cases [of dengue], including 56,637 probable cases and 570 deaths, with a mortality rate of 1%”, he stated in an interview collective its director, doctor José Subeiga.

As of October 15, the same source reported 214 deaths since the beginning of the year. Between October 15th and November 19th, 356 people died from dengue fever.

In an attempt to stop the spread of the epidemic, the government launched a fumigation campaign against mosquitoes in the two most affected cities: the capital Ouagadougou (center) and Bobo Dioulasso (west).

Dengue cases have been reported in Burkina Faso since the 1960s, but its first epidemic occurred in 2017, with 13 deaths.

ab/bam/stb/emd/mab/sag/aa

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Government press briefing on dengue: “disease trends are declining”, according to Dr. Joseph Soubeiga


24/11/2023
NEWS REPORT

The Director of the Health Emergency Response Operations Center (CORUS), Dr. Joseph Soubeiga, spoke to the press on November 23, 2023. Objective: to take stock of the situation of the Dengue and Chikungunya epidemics as well as the measures taken to deal with these epidemics.




Regarding the dengue epidemic, from January 1 ^to November 19, 2023, 123,804 suspected cases were notified, including 56,637 probable cases and 570 deaths.

As for Chikungunya disease, as of November 19, 2023, 238 cases have been confirmed.





Since the occurrence of these epidemics, the Burkinabè State has undertaken several actions to combat these epidemics. This involves the continued strengthening of surveillance in all health regions, the investigation of suspected cases of dengue and Chikungunya, coupled with entomological investigation, the carrying out of audits of cases of death at the level of the Central and Hauts-Bassins region, the declaration of free dengue tests in public health structures. Added to this is the provision of inputs (medicines, consumables) for the management of cases at the hospital level, the deployment of tents to increase the hospitalization capacity in structures, among others. According to Dr. Joseph Soubeiga, these various actions have made it possible to reduce the trend of these epidemics.








In terms of prospects, this will involve, among other things, intensifying vector control in the regions, strengthening the capacity of laboratories in the diagnosis and biological monitoring of patients, strengthening medico-technical equipment in hospitals and strengthening the epidemiological surveillance at all levels of the health system.


The Government Information Service

https://www.sig.gov.bf/details?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=1636&cHash=991b659c6778b56be897c256365c5255

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12/21/23

Burkina Faso: the dengue epidemic is not due to GMO mosquitoes

Nearly 150,000 cases of dengue fever, including nearly 700 deaths, have already been recorded as of December 5, 2023.
GMO mosquitoes do not survive more than 20 days after release and therefore did not cause the epidemic
Populations are invited to live in a healthier environment to keep mosquitoes away

By: Abdel Aziz Nabaloum

[OUAGADOUGOU] According to the Health Emergency Response Operations Center (CORUS), Burkina Faso has been facing a dengue epidemic since last August.

Nearly 150,000 cases including 688 deaths were recorded as of December 5, according to a CORUS count. The cities of Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou are considered the epicenters of the disease .

However, this resurgence of dengue cases is at the center of controversy in the country. According to many Burkinabè people, it is due to the release of around 6,400 genetically modified mosquitoes in July 2019 as part of the “Target Malaria” project , under the aegis of the Health Sciences Research Institute (IRSS) in the villages of Bana, Pala and Sourkoudiguin a few kilometers from Bobo-Dioulasso.

“It was around 2015 that we can talk about experiments on malaria, but during all the previous years, dengue existed... We must not link these two diseases. Because the experiments are carried out on male anopheles and not on bards”

Daniel Yerbanga, regional health director of the Central region

“Currently, we have a national debate on dengue. The IRSS, in the areas of research and the fight against malaria , has developed a certain number of technologies and there has been misunderstanding about the outbreak of dengue cases,” explains Moussa Guelbéogo, entomologist and president of the National Vector Control Commission at the Ministry of Health.

The mosquitoes that transmit dengue are different from those that cause malaria, says the entomologist, adding that “they should not be confused. To date, mosquito releases relate to malaria and not dengue,” he clarifies.

The latter adds that "even if the symptoms of dengue fever are similar to those of malaria, which include fever, vomiting, headaches, etc., the pathogen responsible for dengue fever is bards and that of malaria , the female anopheles,” he explains.

“Target malaria”

Many dengue victims are, however, convinced that the genetically modified mosquitoes released by the “Target malaria” project are the cause of their illness.

This is the case of Awa Sanou, hospitalized at the medical center with surgical branch of Houndé in the Hauts-Bassins region whose capital is Bobo-Dioulasso.

Lying on her side, she continues to writhe in pain after 7 days of hospitalization. “At the start of my illness, I thought it was malaria. As my condition did not improve, my husband took me to the hospital. My Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for dengue is positive with a rate of 8%. My temperature often rises above 35°,” she murmurs.

Sitting at her bedside, her husband, Cheick Sanou, adds: “she often cries because of the pain, because she hurts everywhere. And, his vomiting doesn't stop. I am very worried because she lost consciousness today before coming to her senses. », he relates.

According to him, the government should find a solution to eradicate this disease which “is linked to the release of genetically modified mosquitoes”.

An opinion shared by Germain Eliou, 25 years old. He was rushed by ambulance for treatment to the Souro Sanou University Hospital in Bobo-Dioulasso.

“I was taken to hospital unconscious. I think it was this genetically modified mosquito thing that made us all sick. I often vomit blood and I hurt everywhere,” says the latter.

But for Abdoulaye Diabaté, the principal investigator of the “Target Malaria” project , currently, the dengue epidemic is also raging in many countries which are not experimenting with research on genetically modified mosquitoes.

Scientifically, the researcher maintains, there is no link between the outbreak of dengue cases and their malaria research project.

“Our mosquitoes fly a maximum of around 500 meters from their release points. When we release our mosquitoes, we realize the next day that out of 100 mosquitoes, only 60 survive. And after 20 days, there are no more released mosquitoes that survive,” demonstrates the entomologist.

He affirms that “beyond these 20 days, every month, we go back into the field. We collected the data for a year and we never found any genetically modified mosquitoes.”

Hygiene conditions

According to Daniel Yerbanga, regional health director of the Central region, dengue is an urban disease caused by poor hygienic conditions, which are the source of the proliferation of mosquitoes.

“The first cases of dengue fever in Burkina date back to 1925, there was no research on malaria at that time. It was around 2015 that we can talk about experiments on malaria, but during all the previous years, dengue existed… We should not link these two diseases. Because the experiments are carried out on male anopheles and not on bards,” he says.

Daniel Yerbanga explains that the serious cases of dengue recorded are linked to fragile patients, particularly those who have comorbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, sickle cell anemia, kidney failure, etc.

There are also "those who have been exposed for the second time to other dengue stereotypes who are likely to develop serious cases... this may explain the high mortality for this dengue outbreak", specifies the person concerned.

According to the regional health director, many deaths recorded are not linked to malaria, but to complications due to self-medication in the treatment of dengue.

“50% of patients with a history such as diabetes or hypertension come in a state of weakness due to delays in consultation or the use of phytotoxic drugs which create complications, especially hemorrhages…” reveals Jacques Zoungrana , head of the infectious diseases department at Bobo-Dioulasso University Hospital.

Joseph Soubeiga, medical epidemiologist and technical director of CORUS, affirms that to put an end to this dengue outbreak, we must avoid conflating malaria research with the dengue epidemic, but ensure that the populations of mosquitoes which proliferate because of unsanitary conditions.

https://www.scidev.net/afrique-sub-saharienne/news/burkina-faso-lepidemie-de-dengue-nest-pas-due-aux-moustiques-ogm/