Another Disease

The weather in Hong Kong is getting hot. Apart from SARS, we have to beware of another killer disease - dengue fever.

Dengue fever is an acute viral disease. The incubation period is 3 to 14 days. Symtoms include high fever for three to five days, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, eye pain, nausea, vomiting and skin rash. In severe cases, the patient may present with bleeding and shock, and can die from the disease. Dengue virus is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. There is no person to person spread. The mosquito Aedes albopictus, a vector known to transmit the disease, can be found in Hong Kong.

Good health to you and me!