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Otago Daily Times
05-08-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
'Like you've been put through a meat grinder': Dengue fever victims describe symptoms
Dengue fever cases in Aotearoa have surged as people return from overseas travel with the virus, but what is it like to have the illness, sometimes referred to as breakbone fever? As it turns out, two of RNZ's own business journalists have had the viral infection spread by mosquitos, with both getting the illness twice. It comes as dengue cases in the Pacific are at their highest level in almost a decade, with Samoa particularly affected with more than 2000 cases reported and multiple deaths since an outbreak was declared in April. What is it like to have dengue fever? Former Star News reporter and RNZ business journalist Anan Zaki was hospitalised after a second bout of dengue fever while holidaying and visiting family in the Maldives. It was 2015, and Zaki said when he first got sick it felt as though he had a typical flu that he couldn't shake. 'I didn't even think of dengue then… I got better and a month or so later I felt like I was getting sick again.' This time his symptoms were much more serious. 'I deteriorated quite quickly… I was vomiting, had an intense fever, serious joint pain, I couldn't get out of bed because I was so fatigued, and my muscles were so sore. 'I went to the doctor three times and on the third visit they did a blood test which came back as dengue fever.' Zaki was immediately taken to hospital as he could no longer keep fluid down. 'At day five or six it was touch and go – they weren't sure if I would survive. 'They had to overdose me on Paracetamol to bring down the fever which ended up damaging my liver in the process. 'It was pretty bleak.' He described having dengue fever as feeling like having a flu, Covid-19 and a severe stomach bug all at once. 'Mentally it was really hard, but time is a good healer.' Zaki said it took him about nine months to fully kick the illness. 'I just got unlucky … The doctor told me I had it twice and the second time it just came back harder. 'I was immunocompromised for the next year or so and would get sick very easily.' Jeffrey Halley, also a business reporter at RNZ, has also had the virus twice – once in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2020 and again in Bali in 2022. 'I didn't have to be hospitalised, but I spent a whole week just sleeping.' Halley said a nurse would come to his home in Jakarta twice a day to test his blood and make sure his platelets didn't drop too low. 'I had flu-like symptoms, fatigue, sore joints, headaches and ended up going to hospital when I became really sleepy.' Blood tests confirmed he had the virus, and he was given papaya juice to help ease his symptoms. The second time he caught the virus was during a holiday in Bali after doing outdoor yoga and he immediately recognised what it was when the symptoms began. 'Both times I slept for like a week straight… Whenever I got up, I'd feel dizzy and fatigued, then around day three or four your blood vessels start bursting which causes this red, itchy rash. 'It feels like you've been put through a meat grinder. 'I'd never been so tired, so weak and fatigued in my life…There's nothing really like it.' What are the symptoms of dengue fever? Dengue fever can't be caught in New Zealand as there are no mosquitos that transmit it, but it can be caught while travelling abroad in an area or region that has infected mosquitos. Symptoms of dengue fever include a sudden high fever, intense headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, tiredness, nausea, vomiting and a fine rash which may be itchy and usually begins on the extremities, but spares the palms and soles of the feet. Many people will only have mild symptoms, but a small number of people may get severe dengue which could lead to hospitalisation or even death. Health New Zealand on its website, said many people with dengue may have no symptoms at all or only feel a bit unwell, but symptoms did usually start three to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. 'People with symptoms can sometimes have severe muscle and bone pain similar to the feeling of breaking a bone,' it said. More severe symptoms that needed hospitalisation included severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding gums, blood in vomit or poo, rapid breathing, extreme tiredness and restlessness. Dr Susan Jack, national clinical director for National Public Health Service, said people over 60 years old and children aged 10 and under are also at greater risk of severe illness from dengue. How can you protect yourself against it? Zaki said he now always brings mosquito repellent with him while travelling and makes sure it is tropical-grade DEET that is applied liberally and often. Dr Jack said people travelling overseas to parts of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands and some southern areas of North America should protect themselves by keeping screens or doors and windows closed while indoors. They should also wear light coloured protective clothing, including hats, long sleeves and trousers when outdoors. Wear a repellent cream or spray containing less than 35 percent diethyltoluamide (DEET) when outdoors and avoid places where mosquitos are most active such as swampy areas or places with standing water. Halley noted anyone travelling to areas where dengue fever was present should make sure they have travel insurance prior to leaving New Zealand. 'It's important to have travel insurance, hospital bills could be huge otherwise.' What to do if you think you have it Halley said anyone who thought they might have dengue fever should seek medical attention immediately. Health NZ's advice to New Zealanders who had arrived back in the country from a place that had dengue and felt sick within three weeks, should visit a healthcare provider. 'Get medical advice quickly if you have dengue symptoms while you're travelling.' If anyone was unsure what to do, they could call Healthline for free advice at 0800 611 116.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
It's a win! Min Hee Jin cleared of all charges in the ongoing dispute with BTS's management agency
Min Hee Jin, former CEO of NewJeans' agency, has officially been cleared of all criminal charges that had been filed against her. A case has been ongoing between her and BTS's management company on the basis of breach of trust, which has all been proven wrong. Min Hee Jin gets cleared of all charges Min Hee Jin, as reported by Star News, has been cleared of all the criminal charges that had been filed against her. While she has made no official statement after the victory, she sure shared a story on her social media accounts that many thought was a direct slam against BTS's management agency. the lyrics to the song Min Heejin just posted to her IG story after being cleared of all charges and proven Not Guilty: 'No one will hold you long Your world is always bright and free' — ^ྀི (@newjiram) July 15, 2025 After her victory was made public, she took to her social media and shared a simple story with the song 'Beyond The Clouds' by The Frank Cunimondo Trio. Many fans started thinking that the song, specifically particular lyrics of the song, were meant as a direct hit on the management firm. What had happened between Hee Jin and BTS's agency The main basis of the lawsuit was surrounding the allegations and claims that the former CEO was trying to take control of ADOR illegally, along with prioritising personal needs, and for not being able to fulfil her role as a CEO. Soon after her win, a representative from her legal team issued a statement saying, 'Last April, HYBE filed a criminal complaint against former CEO Min Hee Jin on charges of occupational breach of trust. After more than a year of police investigation, it has been determined that there was no illegality on the part of former CEO Min Hee Jin regarding these charges'. In response, the agency has proceeded to issue a statement saying that it will be filing an objection regarding the ruling. The case has been ongoing for the past year, following which Hee Jin had stepped down from her position as CEO.
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GMA Network
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
K-pop idol Jaehyun passes away at 23
Former member Jaehyun has passed away. He was 23. His death was reported by Soompi, saying the K-pop idol passed away on June 30 after battling leukemia. Citing Star News, Soompi said a funeral was held on July 2, attended by members and his bereaved family. Born Shim Jaehyun, the K-pop single debuted with in 2020. The group officially disbanded three years later in 2023. Among their hit songs are 'Run Run Run,' and 'Burn It Up.' — Jade Veronique Yap/LA, GMA Integrated News
Pink Villa
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Why was Go Min Si replaced by Shin Shi Ah for Hong Sisters' next starring Lee Do Hyun? All about Grand Galaxy Hotel cast change
Hong Sisters' next project finally confirmed its lead cast. The upcoming drama, Grand Galaxy Hotel will feature the fresh pairing of Lee Do Hyun and rising star Shin Shi Ah, as reported by K-media outlet Star News on June 26. Notably, the first preference for both the leads were a different set of A-list actors. Here's why Go Min Si and Cha Eun Woo did not end up starring in the fantasy series. Go Min Si replaced by Shin Shi Ah as Grand Galaxy Hotel female lead The decision to replace Go Min Si with Resident Playbook star Shin Shi Ah likely stemmed from the controversies surrounding Go Min Si's past activities. On May 26 this year, Go Min Si was embroiled in school bullying and money extortion accusations. The Tastefully Yours actress faced intense online scrutiny after a post surfaced with the headline– We are victims of actor A's school violence. As per them, it was unfair for A to continue her acting career normally, by hiding her "violent past." They accused her of bullying, extortion, verbal abuse and of threatening disabled students along with her friends since middle school. Although her agency, Mystic Story, quickly denied the allegations, the damage was done and a large number of fans turned their backs against her. Following this, her underage drinking scandal was also revisited, further escalating the matter. The backlash from the scandal may have been a key factor in Hong Sisters' decision to make a cast replacement. However, the change had consequences- sources reveal that the filming of the drama has been pushed back by three months. Cha Eun Woo replaced by Lee Do Hyun as Grand Galaxy Hotel's male lead Cha Eun Woo was offered to star as the protagonist of Grand Galaxy Hotel. However, after careful consideration, he rejected the offer. His decision was based on scheduling conflicts with his upcoming projects. Following that, Lee Do Hyun was cast for the role, making it his first project since military discharge. The series serves as the sequel to IU's Hotel Del Luna, continuing the narrative with a hotel catering to ghosts, now facing a new challenge with its owner's disappearance.
Pink Villa
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Ex-TVXQ's Kim Junsu wins as extortion culprit gets 7-year imprisonment in 840 million KRW scam
A 30-something female BJ, referred to as A, was convicted of extorting large sums from K-pop artist Kim Junsu. After two trials, she was sentenced to 7 years in prison, under the Specific Economic Crimes Aggravated Punishment Act. She re-appealed the verdict, and, as per the latest updates by K-media outlet Star News on June 24, the court ultimately upheld the original sentence. Kim Junsu has now officially won the case. About Kim Junsu's extortion case The 10-1 Criminal Division (Na) of the Seoul High Court maintained the 7-year prison sentence for BJ A, on grounds of extorting around 800 million KRW (600,000 USD) from former TVXQ member Kim Junsu. She threatened to leak private conversations on as many as 101 occasions, between September 2020 and October 2023. During the second trial held last month, the court cited the punishment order to be based on evidence and severity of her crime. Among the evidence submitted by the prosecution, there was a recorded blackmail call. The duration, contents, and impact on the call on the victim's mental health, made the Supreme Court label the crime as "extremely serious." As part of the ruling, A's mobile phone was also ordered to be confiscated to prevent potential further harm. As the final verdict went against the BJ too, she reflected on herself and seeked forgiveness for her crimes. Defendant apologized for blackmailing Kim Junsu "I sincerely apologize to the victim who was hurt and suffered because of me," A said. She mentioned being "addicted to propofol" due to her severe depression, insomnia, and panic disorder, leading to her resorting to the unlawful means of money extortion. She mentioned, "I caused the victim a lot of damage mentally and financially" and wrote letters of apology to Kim Junsu. She continued, "I swear that I will never cause the same damage to the victim again, even if it means risking my life." Regarding her life after she comes out of jail, she reveals plans of getting a nursing license and helping cancer patients like her father.
