Wednesday April 12 10:36 PM ET Dengue fever could worsen in 21st century. By Carlos A. DeJuana BUENOS AIRES, Apr 12 (Reuters) -- Outbreaks of dengue fever and its sometimes deadly hemorrhagic strain will continue to increase across the Americas in the 21st century unless governments boost their will to combat the tropical virus, experts said. Cases of dengue are on the rise in almost every country in North and South America even though the disease was almost wiped out by a 1962 plan to eradicate the mosquito that carries and spreads the virus. But a lack of coordination between and within governments, dwindling resources and declining awareness of the problem has led to a resurgence of dengue in every Western Hemisphere country except for Canada, Chile, Bermuda and Cuba--which have largely eradicated it. Speak your mind Discuss this story with other people. [Start a Conversation] (Requires Yahoo! Messenger) ``If we continue with our present conditions, we're going to have serious problems,'' Eric Martinez, a Cuban specialist and author on dengue, told Reuters at the 9th International Congress on Infectious Diseases in Buenos Aires. Dengue fever, for which there is no vaccine, causes excruciating muscle and joint pains, high fevers and severe headaches. Its more virulent form called hemorrhagic dengue can cause internal bleeding and death. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of cases of dengue fever in the Americas more than doubled to 741,794 in 1998 from 364,945 in 1997. Even in the US there were 90 laboratory-diagnosed cases of dengue in 1998, including one death. Martinez said socioeconomic conditions, public health services, and preventive and vigilance programs need to improve before authorities can combat the mosquito and the disease. ``If these things don't occur--and presently they aren't--at the doors of the 21st century, we will have to say that the 21st century will be like no other in terms of outbreaks and epidemics of dengue and hemorrhagic dengue,'' Martinez said. Furthermore, global warming is increasing the geographical areas in which the mosquito can live, he said adding, ``this is a global problem.'' Francisco Pinheiro of the Pan American Health Organization said community participation and awareness of dengue and how to combat it was central toward its eradication. Argentina has recently increased its dengue awareness programmes fearing an outbreak of the disease at home after the number of cases in neighbouring Paraguay reached what the government there called an ``epidemic explosion.'' The Argentine government has said Paraguay has about 10,000 confirmed cases of dengue in a country of 5 million people, with one fatality. In March, Argentina detected 170 cases of dengue, all Paraguayans or people who had been in the South American country. But even a lack of coordination between different regional governments in Argentina can allow the mosquito to prosper. While Buenos Aires, the country's wealthiest district, is taking precautions against dengue, some of its poorer neighboring municipalities have not. ``There's a lack of will to say we have to efficiently control the (dengue-carrying) Aedes aegypti mosquito and dedicate the funds and, more importantly, the human resources,'' said Alfredo Seijo, a doctor at Buenos Aires' Muniz Hospital. E-mail this story | Printer-friendly format Earlier Stories Typhoid outbreak reported in Chechnya (April 6) Estimated HIV cases top half a million in China (April 4) Research thousands of health terms, drugs, and diseases <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html <A HREF="http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om