• There is still no specific treatment or vaccine for dengue. It’s complicated because there are four different types of virus causing dengue ( serotypes – DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4 ). Recovery from one gives lifelong immunity, but infection by other serotypes increases the risk of severe dengue. It does this by “ confusing “ the immune response ( antibodies and “ T cells “ ). Recent work in several centres round the world has confirmed this. It has slowed development of a vaccine, although there is hope at least one ( being tested in Philippines and Thailand ) will be available by 2015 or sooner.
• Despite the 30 fold increase in dengue in the past 50 years such that it’s now endemic in over 100 countries, including Philippines – it is not usually fatal. Good medical care means less than 1% death rate, although it’s a leading cause of hospital admissions in many parts of the world.
See http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....ngue-Fever-Map .
