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Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1171216&pageid=0
BMC begins dengue mutation study
Sumitra Deb Roy
Sunday, June 15, 2008 03:52 IST
[/B]It hopes to understand the nature of the virus and curb relapse cases[/B]
The BMC is scared that the early onset of the monsoons may push cases of dengue to epidemic proportions this year. Therefore, the corporation has initiated a study to understand the dengue virus and its mutation.
The study, which started last week at the Molecular Diagnostic Reference Laboratory at Kasturba Hospital, Arthur Road, with samples of a few cases of suspected dengue, will continue till the end of the monsoons. This despite no confirmed dengue cases being reported till now this year.
The study was initiated due to the 8-10 dengue relapse cases reported last year. ?Dengue relapse is very rare. We are therefore, interested in understanding how the virus affects our body,? said Dr Jairaj Thanekar, executive health officer, BMC. The study will also focus on the mutating patterns of the virus.
Dengue fever is caused by aedes egypti mosquito and has four different subtypes producing differing manifestations of the disease. Interestingly, dengue until recently was confined to parts of Latin and South America and is only now being reported in India.
?We are conducting tests that will enable us to differentiate between primary and secondary dengue,? said Dr Jayanti Shastri, epidemiology cell, BMC, who is heading the study. She added, ?Contracting a particular sub-type of the dengue virus does not make a person immune to another type. But, subsequent infection with the same type makes the virus more virulent,? said Shastri, who adds that sub types I and II commonly affect Mumbaikars.
Although a dengue attack creates anti-bodies in the body, contracting the virus a second time could lead to complications such as dengue shock syndrome or dengue haemorrhagic fever. ?Both shock syndrome (loss of excess body fluid) and haemorrhagic fever (decreased blood pressure and signs of haemorrhage) can prove fatal,? added Thanekar.
The study is an attempt to understand if the city is witnessing cases of mutated dengue virus attacks so that relapse cases are minimal. ?We are looking at ways to deal with the virus and its relapse,? said Thanekar.
Shastri added that a test called Real time PCR for studying the genes of the virus is being offered free of cost by the municipal hospitals. ?Private hospitals too can avail of the service against payment,? she added.
As there is no vaccine available against dengue, the best way is prevention. ?Appropriate vector control measures like mosquito repellents, creams, lotions, sleeping in mosquito nets can help one from getting affected,? said Shastri.
d_sumitra@dnaindia.net
BMC begins dengue mutation study
Sumitra Deb Roy
Sunday, June 15, 2008 03:52 IST
[/B]It hopes to understand the nature of the virus and curb relapse cases[/B]
The BMC is scared that the early onset of the monsoons may push cases of dengue to epidemic proportions this year. Therefore, the corporation has initiated a study to understand the dengue virus and its mutation.
The study, which started last week at the Molecular Diagnostic Reference Laboratory at Kasturba Hospital, Arthur Road, with samples of a few cases of suspected dengue, will continue till the end of the monsoons. This despite no confirmed dengue cases being reported till now this year.
The study was initiated due to the 8-10 dengue relapse cases reported last year. ?Dengue relapse is very rare. We are therefore, interested in understanding how the virus affects our body,? said Dr Jairaj Thanekar, executive health officer, BMC. The study will also focus on the mutating patterns of the virus.
Dengue fever is caused by aedes egypti mosquito and has four different subtypes producing differing manifestations of the disease. Interestingly, dengue until recently was confined to parts of Latin and South America and is only now being reported in India.
?We are conducting tests that will enable us to differentiate between primary and secondary dengue,? said Dr Jayanti Shastri, epidemiology cell, BMC, who is heading the study. She added, ?Contracting a particular sub-type of the dengue virus does not make a person immune to another type. But, subsequent infection with the same type makes the virus more virulent,? said Shastri, who adds that sub types I and II commonly affect Mumbaikars.
Although a dengue attack creates anti-bodies in the body, contracting the virus a second time could lead to complications such as dengue shock syndrome or dengue haemorrhagic fever. ?Both shock syndrome (loss of excess body fluid) and haemorrhagic fever (decreased blood pressure and signs of haemorrhage) can prove fatal,? added Thanekar.
The study is an attempt to understand if the city is witnessing cases of mutated dengue virus attacks so that relapse cases are minimal. ?We are looking at ways to deal with the virus and its relapse,? said Thanekar.
Shastri added that a test called Real time PCR for studying the genes of the virus is being offered free of cost by the municipal hospitals. ?Private hospitals too can avail of the service against payment,? she added.
As there is no vaccine available against dengue, the best way is prevention. ?Appropriate vector control measures like mosquito repellents, creams, lotions, sleeping in mosquito nets can help one from getting affected,? said Shastri.
d_sumitra@dnaindia.net