What You Need to Know About Dengue

Dengue fever is making its rounds again not only in the Philippines but in other countries as well. Reports have revealed of dengue outbreaks in Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela and along the Gulf Coastal states in the US. If anything, this disease is not only epidemic, but pandemic as well.

Davao, a city located in the Philippines, is currently reported to have accumulated more than a thousand cases of dengue since January this year. Though this statistics is clearly alarming, Honduras has experienced 22,000 dengue infection cases this year and 22 people from the country had already died form the disease.

Dengue fever is a disease caused and spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Its signs and symptoms are often times similar to that of flu. However, it effects are more detrimental. This viral disease, which is more common in tropical regions, causes increased vascular permeability that later leads to bleeding diathesis or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). DIC is also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever and is actually very fatal.

Dengue fever is considered potentially life threatening. However, it is not always dangerous. When noticed and diagnosed early, prolonged hospitalization and death can be prevented. Dengue’s treatment involves the basic treatment procedures usually done for curing regular fever. Wet pads and cold compress may be applied to reduce body temperature and antidotes may be administered if necessary. Other ways to help cope with dengue fever include maintaining water balance of the body as well as controlling the patient’s blood pressure.

Nevertheless, prevention is still better than cure. Thus, the best method to prevent dengue is to get rid of mosquito infestation. This means getting away with potential mosquito habitats which include man-made containers such as metal drums, earthenware jars, flower vases, and other water storage jars. Other dengue preventive measures include proper waste disposal as well as developing and practicing proper water storage practices. Covering water containers and potential water holders also help prevent dengue cases. Applying mosquito repellants also help protecting you and your family against dengue.

Swine Flu Outbreak hits United States

Scientists still do not get how the swine influenza has come to affect humans. Five U.S states have reported that swine flue is present in their states. Almost 40 cases are reported but only one case led to hospitalization according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The states that are hit by the swine flue outbreak were New York, Texas, Kansas, Ohio and California.

But in Mexico, where the outbreak started, hundreds were reportedly ill and 149 of them have died with the same strain of virus that hit the United States. Reports also emerge telling that the outbreak has reached other countries like Britain, Canada, New Zealand and France. Scientists now know what the virus’s main component is and found out that this kind of influenza strain contains genetic materials from swine, bird and human influenza. But it still remains a mystery how lethal the combination of these three does to people.

An epidemiologist in Atlanta says that until the biological properties of this influenza strain is understood, it is better for the people to refrain from going to Mexico where the outbreak started. Some officials also told the public to limit interpersonal contact, close schools in affected areas, canceling all social events and subjecting the people who have been exposed to the virus to quarantine is necessary.

Scientists are hoping that the timing of the influenza outbreak will limit the impact and they also said that as of now, no existing vaccine is found to be effective against this kind of strain. They believe that the outbreak will continue but they are positive that they can find a cure for this disease in time.

Furchgott the Viagra Developer Dies at 92

A very sad story had happened last May 2009 when the famous developer of Viagra died in the northwestern city of Seattle at the age of 92. Furchgott was born in Charleston, South Carolina on June 4, 1916. He is a Nobel-prize winning scientist whose research was famous on blood vessel relaxant with the use of gas’ effect. Who can forget this famous drug to treat sexual dysfunction which increases the level of cyclic GMP which stands for “Cyclic guanosine monophosphate”.

Actually the development of the famous Viagra came from the research of Furchgott and his colleagues Louis Ignarro and Ferid Murad. These three earned Nobel-prize for physiology in 1998. Their research was on the pollutant from cigarettes and car engines which then adds to form smog. The research key role was to play a vital role in the human cardiovascular system, blood circulation and regulating blood pressure. With their discovery on the nitric oxide effect, this led to the development of Viagra which was developed in Pfizer’s laboratory. Wow isn’t that awesome that they have patiently worked hard for it for the benefit of others and led to the advent of the famous Viagra.

Upon the manufacturing of Viagra that was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1998, about 35 million men world wide used the drug as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. Imagine how helpful this Viagra is. Thanks to Mr. Furchgott, I think millions of family or marriages have been saved in the positive view of the effect of the drug. Well, we can’t help those men who try to betray their family or to destroy lives because of the abusive use on Viagra.

So don’t ever forget the name, Robert Francis Furchgott the famous Viagra developer who is worth remembering for his great achievements in the world of science.