Coronavirus V Dengue, Which is more harmful? In this article, we are going to discuss the symptoms and effects of these two life-threatening diseases. Stay with us to get informed.
Since the dawn of humanity, humankind has been vulnerable to numerous life-threatening diseases. Recently Coronavirus evolved in China causing severe loss of life. Day by day the vulnerability of coronavirus is reaching other countries beyond the geographical boundary of China. Now it has become an impending threat for people worldwide. Coronaviruses represent a virus-family that causes illness both in humans and animals. Several types of coronaviruses are responsible for causing respiratory infections in humans. The vulnerability may range from common cold infections to severe respiratory diseases like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The currently discovered coronavirus is held responsible for coronavirus disease termed as ‘COVID-19’.
Analyzing the Coronavirus (COVID 19) situation in China, it is found that people aged between 30 to 79 year old have been mostly affected. The death toll was significantly high for people aged about 80 years and older.
Source: statnews.com
In Source: statnews.com
Bangladesh several cases of COVID 19 have been found in recent days. However, people of Bangladesh have been vulnerable to disease called ‘Dengue’ – a mosquito-borne viral infection. According to DGHS (Directorate General of Health Services), about 19,513 people were affected by Dengue in August 2019 (Source: wikipedia.org). Unlike COVID 19, the majority of the Dengue patients are young people.
Image Credit: bdnews24.com
The above info-graph shows that men and women aged between 15 to 25 years are mostly vulnerable to Dengue infection. Following this, the risk of Dengue disease prevails upon people under the age-group of 25 to 35 years, and 5 to 15 years. Overall, we can say that people from the active age group are the most vulnerable to the attack of Dengue disease.
‘Dengue’ has been pandemic in many countries around the world. Dengue widely affected in countryside areas, urban poor regions, and suburbs areas. The impact of dengue fever has been rocketed almost 30-folds in the past 50 years. The risk of Dengue fever is impending over 40% of the world’s total population. About 390 million people are estimated to be affected by dengue infections around the world per year. (Source: worldmosquitoprogram.org)
Symptoms: Dengue Vs. Novel Corona
How to Stay Safe from Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Till date no vaccine has been invented to prevent coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19). To prevent the attack of COVID-19, it is the best way to avoid getting exposure to coronavirus. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends some preventive actions in regular life to prevent the spread of respiratory infections, like COVID-19.
- Avoid close interaction with people who are currently ill.
- Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home and obtain self-quarantine when you are sick.
- Use a tissue to cover your mouth area while coughing or sneezing, and then throw that used tissue in the dustbin.
- Clean/ disinfect the regularly touched/used objects frequently using a cleaning spray/wipe.
- If you are well, then you don’t need to wear a facemask for protection from respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Rather wearing Facemask is recommended for people who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 to prevent the spreading of virus to others. Moreover, facemask wearing is highly recommended for people serving as health workers and caretaker of any COVID-19 patient.
- Wash your hands often – especially after using the bathroom, before taking food and after sneezing, blowing your nose, or coughing – with soap-water, or alcohol-based hand sanitizer (60% alcohol or higher) for minimum 20 seconds.
Dengue Virus
How to Stay Safe from Dengue Fever?
You can take some precautions to protect yourself from dengue infection.
- Remove the breeding zones (especially stagnant clean water) of mosquito inside and around your home
- Protect yourself from mosquito bites
- Stay away from visiting mosquito-prone areas
- Wear full-sleeves dress and full pants to cover most body-parts, especially arms and legs.
- Apply mosquito nets both day and night while you sleep.
When two or more dengue cases are found within 14 days period and the households of the dengue victims are located within 150m distance, a “dengue cluster” is identified (NEA website). If you are currently staying/visiting in a “dengue cluster” tagged neighborhood, adopt the following preventing measures:
- Apply mosquito repellent (containing DEET/diethyltoluamide) to exposed skin area and/or clothing.
- Don’t need to apply the repellent under clothing, on irritated skin, cuts/wounds, and areas of eyes, mouth, ears.
- Don’t spray the repellent directly over the face. Rather apply the repellent on your hands, and then put it over your face using your hands. Then clean your hands immediately.
- Don’t apply repellent over infants below two-month old.
- If you experience any kind of negative reaction like rash due to the application of repellent, wash it off instantly with mild soap-water and avoid using that product. And consult a doctor afterwards.
On the whole, it behooves upon us to take preventive measures from life-threatening diseases like COVID-19 and Dengue infection. Stay safe, don’t panic and get aware about the latest updates and recommendations from the reliable authorities and health organizations.