CAMBODIA: WORST DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAK SINCE 1998

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 001755 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND M/MED E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI AMED CB SUBJECT: CAMBODIA: WORST DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAK SINCE 1998 ¶1. Summary. Cambodia is in the midst of its worst dengue outbreak since 1998, with 10,000 Cambodian children already infected this year. Phnom Penh's SOS Clinic, a popular choice among the expatriate community, reports 47 dengue cases so far this year, in contrast to 45 during all of 2005. The pattern of dengue infection in Cambodia is changing from a peri-urban, cyclical disease to one which affects more remote rural and core urban areas, and one which is affects 10,000 to 12,000 people per year. Although the fatality rate has fallen over the past several years, 100-200 Cambodian children die each year and low quality health care necessitates medical travel to Bangkok for some expatriate adults and children. End Summary. 10,000 Dengue Cases So Far This Year -------------- ¶2. About 10,000 Cambodian children have been infected with dengue fever so far this year, compared to about 6,000 children in the same period last year, according to Dr. Ngan Chantha, Director of the National Dengue Control Program. In 10 of Cambodia's 24 provinces, the incidence rate (defined as new cases per 100,000 individuals) for the first 32 weeks of 2006 is more than double the rate for the same period in ¶2005. The incidence rate in Phnom Penh has risen even more dramatically, from 35.6 cases per 100,000 in 2005 to 99.3 cases per 100,000 in 2006. At least 102 Cambodian children have died from dengue infection this year. Some health experts have speculated that the presence of a previously uncommon strain of dengue has contributed to the outbreak as fewer children have prior exposure to that strain. ¶3. The largest reported dengue epidemic in Cambodia occurred in 1998, with 16,216 dengue cases and 475 deaths reported. This epidemic mainly affected Phnom Penh and Kandal province. Although the annual number of reported dengue cases has declined since 1998, the distribution of disease has spread from mainly urban areas to rural areas. In the past, dengue infections in Cambodia have been cyclical, with years with fewer than 1,000 reported cases interspersed with years with 3,000 or more cases. Since 2001, however, there have been approximately 10,000-12,000 cases reported each year, resulting in 100-200 deaths per year. In contrast to rising infection rates, the fatality rate has fallen from 2.9% during the 1998 outbreak to 1.0% so far this year, which may reflect better treatment, earlier diagnosis, and/or increased immunity to circulating strains. Nonetheless, this fatality rate is relatively high compared to other Southeast Asian countries. Expats Affected as Well -------------- ¶4. Brian Ritchie, director of the SOS Clinic, a private clinic serving 1,200 patients per month, stated that the clinic has confirmed 47 cases of dengue so far this year, in comparison to 45 cases during all of 2005. (Comment: Given that peak dengue season is from June to November, it is significant that YTD cases for 2006 have already outpaced cases for the entire calendar year 2005. End Comment.) Despite having a patient base that is 35-40% Cambodian nationals, Ritchie reported that all but 1 or 2 of this year's dengue cases were among expatriates. Ritchie also reported seeing an increase in urban exposure to dengue starting in mid-2005, whereas in past years dengue exposure among expatriates was often linked to peri-urban and rural exposure. Several of these cases have been tied to stagnant water at construction sites which are proliferating in Phnom Penh's building boom. ¶5. Approximately 10 of this year's SOS clinic dengue cases had to travel to Bangkok for medical treatment, either because the patient's blood platelet count was falling quickly and safe blood products are not available in Cambodia, or because the patient was quite ill and needed symptomatic care in a hospitalized setting not available in Cambodia. (Note: One adult embassy family member was medevaced to Bangkok in July for dengue treatment, including a 7-day hospitalization. End Note.) ¶6. Dengue infection among adults is far more common in the expatriate than the Cambodian population. The average age of all dengue cases at the SOS clinic was 33 years, whereas according to National Dengue Control Program statistics, just 1% of Cambodians infected with dengue are over the age of 15. While Cambodian children have typically been exposed to several of the four strains of dengue by the time they reach adulthood, expatriates often come to Cambodia with no dengue immunity, leaving them vulnerable to infection. Dr. Jim Cousins of the SOS Clinic noted that dengue infections among PHNOM PENH 00001755 002 OF 002 adults are often more severe than those in children. ¶7. The three main international schools--Northbridge International School of Cambodia, International School of Phnom Penh, and the Lycee Rene Descartes--have all reported dengue cases so far this school year among students and/or staff. Several schools noted that cases seem to be down slightly this year in their communities, though given their relatively small size this may be just statistical variation. Government Efforts to Battle Dengue -------------- ¶8. Cambodia has acknowledged the public health importance of dengue fever and established a National Dengue Control Program in 1996. Dengue control in Cambodia has shifted from reactive outbreak response measures to a preventive approach. Insecticidal spraying against adult mosquitoes which have little or no impact on the larval population has been reduced, and more sustainable methods of vector control have been increasingly employed, including mass larviciding campaigns. ¶9. At a recent meeting of the Technical Working Group for Health, Dr. Chantha cited several factors hampering the effective prevention of dengue, including poor sanitation, lack of funding at a provincial level and lack of local participation in preventive activities. In addition, efforts to treat dengue are hampered by patients who are late to seek medical care or resort to self-medication or folk remedies. ¶10. Comment: Despite its public health significance, dengue prevention and control activities are under-funded and neglected compared to other diseases with similar disease burden and comparable impact on the health of the population. This has resulted in the continued lack of awareness of the risk of dengue among the general population and the adoption of behaviors necessary to prevent infection from mosquitoes that bite during the day. As most Cambodians lack confidence in the underfunded and understaffed public health system, many initially seek treatment from either poorly trained private providers, further delaying life-saving diagnosis and treatment. At the same time, expatriates--including embassy staff and EFMs--face significant risks due to lack of prior exposure to dengue and the limited health facilities that even the best equipped clinics in Cambodia can offer. End Comment. MUSSOMELI