Context: On 16th May Every year India observes National Dengue Day suggested by the Union Health Ministry to create awareness about measures on dengue prevention and to control the spread of the vector-borne disease and preparedness before the transmission season of dengue begins.
Key Points
The Health Ministry has stated a list of measures to control dengue such as,

• Maintaining clean surroundings
• To prevent mosquito bites.
• Stagnation of water in containers should be avoided to prevent mosquito breeding.
• Weekly checking and cleaning of coolers
• Covering the tanks and containers with a lid.
• Usage of mosquito repellents and long sleeved cloths.
• Constantly changing the water in flower vases, fish tanks and bird baths.

About Dengue

• It is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes Aegypti, a type of mosquito.
• It is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. It is very common after rainy season.
• The dengue virus (DEN) comprises four distinct serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4) which belong to the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae.
• Highly contagious and spreads from one infected person to another through mosquito bites.
• It can affect people irrespective of age and gender.
• The infected person develops symptoms after 3 to 14 days of infective bite.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of dengue overlap with other illnesses that cause fever. The common symptoms are fever, muscle pain, bone pain, joint pain, rash, nausea/vomiting, eye pain and headache.

The symptoms of severe dengue are,

• Stomach, tenderness
• Bleeding from nose or gums
• Vomiting blood or blood in stool
• Restlessness or irritable