Read the passage given below.
The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades. A vast majority of
cases are asymptomatic or mild and self-managed, and hence the actual numbers of dengue cases are underreported or often misdiagnosed.
One estimate indicates 390 million dengue virus infections per year (95% credible interval 284–528
million), of which 96 million (67–136 million) manifest clinically (with any severity of disease). The
number of dengue cases reported to WHO increased over 8 fold over the last two decades.
This alarming increase in case numbers is partly explained by a change in national practices to record and
report dengue to the Ministries of Health, and to the WHO. But it also represents government recognition of the burden, and therefore the pertinence to report dengue disease.
Before 1970, only 9 countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics. The disease is now endemic in
more than 100 countries in the WHO regions of Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, SouthEast Asia and the Western Pacific. The America, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions are the most
seriously affected, with Asia representing ~70% of the global burden of disease.
In 2020, dengue continues to affect several countries, with reports of increases in the numbers of cases in
Bangladesh, Brazil, Cook Islands, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mayotte (Fr), Nepal,
Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Yemen.
The largest number of dengue cases ever reported globally was in 2019. All regions were affected, and
dengue transmission was recorded in Afghanistan for the first time.
The first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia® (CYD-TDV) developed by Sanofi Pasteur was licensed in December
2015 and has now been approved by regulatory authorities in ~20 countries. In November 2017, the results
of an additional analysis to retrospectively determine serostatus at the time of vaccination were released.
As described in the WHO position paper on the Dengvaxia vaccine (September 2018) the dengue vaccine
CYD-TDV has been shown in clinical trials to be efficacious and safe in persons who have had a previous
dengue virus infection. However, it carries an increased risk of severe dengue in those who experience their
first natural dengue infection after vaccination. For countries considering vaccination as part of their dengue
control programme, pre-vaccination screening is the recommended strategy.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage attempt ANY TEN questions from the twelve that
follow. (1x10=10)
i. In the line, ‘and therefore the pertinence to report dengue disease’ , the word pertinence does not
mean
a. Importance
b. Ignorance
c. Relevance
d. Appropriateness
ii. According to the WHO report, around 70% of the dengue cases from around the world,
a. Affect people in Asia
b. Misdiagnosed in Asia
c. Do not occur in Asia
d. Remain untreated in Asia
iii. The actual number of dengue cases are more than the figures in the reports because:
a. There has been a misprint
b. Cases reported late
c. Cases are under-reported
d. Cases constantly increase
iv. Choose the option that is correct about the rise in the number of dengue cases
a. Rise in dengue is due to rise in tourism
b. Dengue is being tested and reported in vast numbers
c. Dengue is a communicable disease
d. Dengue spread is uncontrollable
v. According to this WHO report which year recorded the maximum number of Dengue cases?
a. 2017
b. 2015
c. 2020
d. 2019
vi. Which statement is not true about the dengue vaccine as stated in the report?
a. Dengue vaccine works effectively on people who have been infected before
b. Dengue vaccine works effectively on people who haven’t been infected before
c. Dengue vaccine must be administered to people in the countries where it is an endemic
d. Dengue vaccine has been in clinical trials but the results are not as expected
vii. What does the word ‘endemic’ refer to?
a. Disease regularly found in people of a certain area
b. Disease irregularly found in people of a certain area
c. Disease regularly found in people any where
d. Disease irregularly found in people any where
viii. The number of cases of Dengue reported to WHO
a. Decreased 8 times in the last ten years
b. Decreased 10 times in the last twenty years
c. Increased 10 times in the last eight years
d. Increased 8 times in the last twenty years
ix. What is the above report informing us about? Choose the most appropriate response
a. Spread of dengue and its effects around the world
b. Spread of dengue and its under-reportage
c. Spread of Dengue and how it affects Asia
d. Spread of Dengue and directions on the use of vaccine
x. Where do weneed to administer the dengue vaccine?
a. In country where dengue is wide-spread
b. In country where dengue may spread
c. In country where dengue spread is limited
d. In country where dengue spread originated
Answers
Answer:
The answers are as follows:
i. In the line, ‘and therefore the pertinence to report dengue disease’ , the word pertinence does not mean
b. Ignorance
ii. According to the WHO report, around 70% of the dengue cases from around the world,
a. Affect people in Asia
iii. The actual number of dengue cases are more than the figures in the reports because:
c. Cases are under-reported
iv. Choose the option that is correct about the rise in the number of dengue cases
b. Dengue is being tested and reported in vast numbers
v. According to this WHO report which year recorded the maximum number of Dengue cases?
d. 2019
vi. Which statement is not true about the dengue vaccine as stated in the report?
b. Dengue vaccine works effectively on people who haven’t been infected before
vii. What does the word ‘endemic’ refer to?
a. Disease regularly found in people of a certain area.
viii. The number of cases of Dengue reported to WHO
d. Increased 8 times in the last twenty years
ix. What is the above report informing us about? Choose the most appropriate response
d. Spread of Dengue and directions on the use of vaccine
x. Where do we need to administer the dengue vaccine?
a. In country where dengue is wide-spread.
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