Dengue Epidemic
In the month of January 2005, the Malaysia Health Ministry’s Disease Control Director, Dr. Ramlee Rahmat, said a total 2,465 suspected dengue cases with three deaths were reported in the country since 1 January.
He said the deaths from dengue hemorrhagic fever involved a six-year-old child in Kuala Lumpur, a 46-year-old woman in Pahang, and a 34-year-old man in Malacca. Dr. Ramlee said a total 1,416 suspected cases were reported between 8 and 15 January, as opposed to 1,049 cases the week before.
The figures are alarming, and we could be another victim of statistics, if proper prevention is not taken.
Dengue fever is a flu-like illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito called Aedes. Once infected by the mosquito bite, dengue fever usually starts suddenly with a high fever, rash, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain.
The severity of the joint pain has given dengue the name "breakbone fever." Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are common. A rash usually appears 3 to 4 days after the start of the fever. The illness can last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take as long as a month. Older children and adults usually become more ill than young children.
Most dengue infections result in relatively mild illnesses, but some can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever. With dengue hemorrhagic fever, the blood vessels start to leak and cause bleeding from the nose, mouth, and gums. Bruising can be a sign of bleeding inside the body. Without prompt treatment, the blood vessels can collapse, causing shock (dengue shock syndrome). Dengue hemorrhagic fever is fatal in about 5 percent of cases, mostly among children and young adults.
Sad to say, there is no specific treatment for dengue fever as of now. However, health care experts do recommend 2 things that people can do. Firstly, use prevention techniques and secondly, increase your immunity, your ONLY way to fight an infection.
PREVENTION – Recent findings reveal that "the black-and-white striped Aedes mosquitoes usually feed twice a day, once in the morning between 6 a.m-8 a.m and once in the evening 5 p.m-8 p.m. The mosquitoes usually travel within a 200 m distance and do not go higher than a six-storey building.
Nevertheless, they can still travel higher if they accidentally get trapped in a lift and travel further when they happen to fly intoa car,” says Dr. Ramlee Rahmat.
While keeping the surrounding areas free from becoming a potential breeding ground of mosquitoes, it is important to take extra precautions during the mosquito feeding time, as stated above.
NewLife Wonda Oil, among its many uses, is an excellent natural mosquito repellent. Keep a bottle handy with you at all times.
Your immune system is the only defense mechanism that works to prevent and help you fight the disease, should you be infected. Just as no specific treatment is available for dengue fever, it is your own immunity that dictates your survival. We have an extensive network of protective factors that circulate throughout our bodies to kill any bacteria, virus, or cancer cells. Think of these 20 trillion immune cells as both your mighty army and your garbage disposal man. However, your mighty army fights best when it is well nourished and free from toxins. Therefore, diet and supplements play a major role in reinforcing your immune system.
NewLife has always advocated a healthy lifestyle. We recommend the Detoxification & Rejuvenation Programme (DRP) to give your body a new start, including a diet consisting of 75% raw fruit and vegetables, with plenty of freshly made juice.
Yogurt should be the main source of protein.
The whole essence of good health can be summarized in one simple sentence: "Bring in the right groceries (nutrients) and take out the trash (toxins)."
