Dengue in Tokyo

This item appears on page 18 of the November 2014 issue.

Since late August, at least 144 people have become infected by dengue fever in Tokyo, the first such cases of the disease in Japan in 70 years. In response, Tokyo health officials have closed Yoyogi Park and Shinjuku Central Park and restricted access to three other parks. 

Dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes, and symptoms include high fever, joint pain, a measles-like rash and, occasionally, internal bleeding and low blood pressure. There is no cure. The best preventive measure is avoiding mosquito bites.