WASHINGTON: More than 80 per cent of dengue virus infections are transmitted through those individuals, who virtually show no symptoms and are reluctant to consult a physician, says a new research published in PLOS Pathogens.
According to Alex Perkins, Eck Family Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame and senior author on the study, nearly 400 million people each year are infected with dengue virus, which is transmitted through mosquitoes.
Nearly a quarter of dengue virus transmission is the result of mosquitoes biting those already infected before the onset of symptoms. By the time those symptoms appear, the opportunity to prevent the virus from spreading has passed, Dr Perkins noted.
He said, “Until a few years ago, it was assumed that individuals with mild to no symptoms contributed relatively little to dengue virus transmission.
“Our research reveals that people showing no symptoms of dengue virus infection are contributing much more than was previously recognised, so that we now have a better idea of the large extent to which they contribute to the spread of this disease,” Science Daily quoted Dr Perkins as saying.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame used mathematical modeling to quantify what fraction of dengue virus infections might be caused by people whose illnesses were undetected by public health surveillance systems.
“Unfortunately, based on our study, those who need to be targeted with interventions are either being identified after they have already contributed to transmission or are not being identified at all,” said Dr Perkins.
“Our results indicate that it might be necessary to shift emphasis towards more proactive disease prevention strategies that do not rely as strongly on responding to detected cases,” said lead author of the study Quirine ten Bosch, former biological sciences doctoral student and graduate fellow of the Eck Institute for Global Health at Notre Dame. (AGENCIES)
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