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Thursday March 28, 2024

Individuals must play active role to avoid outbreak

By Muhammad Qasim
August 31, 2016

Rawalpindi

The reporting of well over 60 confirmed cases of dengue fever in this region of the country in last three to four months hints that the concerned government authorities have failed in checking growth of larvae of ‘aedes aegypti’, the vector that causes dengue fever.

In this situation, according to health experts, it is a must for the individuals to take preventive and control measures religiously to avoid outbreak of the infection in near future.

Data collected by ‘The News’ has revealed that a total of 55 confirmed cases of dengue fever have so far been reported at the three allied hospitals in town of which majority are residents of the district. Similarly nearly 10 confirmed cases of dengue fever have already been reported from rural areas of the federal capital this year.

The confirmation of dengue fever in such a big number of patients from the region proves the existence of dengue fever vector in abundance here showing that larvae identification and elimination campaigns launched by the district health department in the beginning of this year did not yield the desired results.

The incidence of dengue fever has so far been reported in a number of localities in town and the situation may take an alarming turn in the days to come if proper preventive and control measures are not taken by both the concerned authorities and individuals.

According to health experts, the best defense against spread of dengue fever is prevention and to control spread of dengue fever, individuals will have to play active role.

If we fail in controlling spread of the infection at the time, the situation may get worse and the population in town would have to face a much severe outbreak of dengue fever in next three to four weeks as the weather conditions in September and October are considered to be the most supportive for dengue fever transmission, said a top official at allied hospitals pleading anonymity.

He said that people should be aware of the fact that dengue fever is caused by the bite of a female mosquito ‘aedes aegypti’ and its elimination is a must to control spread of the infection.

Almost all varieties of mosquitoes breed in or near water that is stagnant or slow moving and to check spread of dengue fever, the habitats of mosquitoes especially those close to human habitation should be eliminated, said Deputy Director at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Waseem Ahmed Khawaja while talking to ‘The News’.

He said individuals should not allow unnecessary collection of water in and around residences and should take measures to eliminate mosquitoes in houses.

It is important that with no proper vaccine available to combat dengue, the only effective and available method of controlling and eventually eliminating the infection is elimination of adult mosquitoes and the mosquito breeding sites along with effectively treating patients identified as carriers.

Dr. Khawaja said that individuals should take precautionary measures such as regular use of quality pest control products like household insecticidal sprays, coils, mats and liquid electrical devices. The use of mosquito deterrents in bedrooms is effective to reduce the number of mosquitoes in the room, but it does not prevent mosquito bites altogether and the only thing that the individuals have to care for is to avoid mosquito bite to avoid spread of dengue fever, he said.

It is important to mention here that ‘aedes aegypti’ breeds and stays on clean water containers like barrels, buckets, drums, tanks, flower vases, water coolers, discarded tires, toilet bowls and other such places, including the ones where rainwater collects. To control spread of the infection, individuals and families should empty all water containers and avoid collection of water in open anywhere in the house.

Experts say that people should reduce human-mosquito contact by following preventive measures and during the peak biting time of the mosquito from dusk to dawn, by the use of protective clothing, long sleeve shirts, full length pants, socks, and shoes.

It is not possible for the health department or other concerned government authorities to eliminate mosquito ‘aedes aegypti’ completely from the environment, said Executive District Officer (Health) Dr. Arshad Ali Sabir when contacted by ‘The News’ on Tuesday.

He said last year, in 2015, the total number of confirmed patients of dengue fever from the town was 42 till August 30 while this year, only 25 residents have so far been confirmed positive for the infection.