Prevent the preventable: In dead of winter, 69 dengue cases detected

Rise in temperatures will see dengue larva breeding also increase.

ISLAMABAD:

At least 69 fresh cases of dengue fever were reported during the first eleven days of 2014, which warrants timely action on part of authorities to avoid a major outbreak.

According to the Epidemiological Bulletin compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Government of Pakistan, out of the 69 dengue fever cases, 68 were reported from the Sindh province and one from the Punjab.

A WHO health expert said that the major reason behind these cases was the rising temperatures.

“In Sindh daytime temperatures are now above 20 degrees Celsius which is favorable for the dengue mosquito breeding,” he said.

“ It is expected that the mosquito will be more active from mid-February to May  this year, therefore there is a need to take timely measures to prevent innocent people becoming victim of this disease,” said the official.



The official said there are high chances of dengue fever transmission in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), particularly in Swat, where a different strain of the disease may spread.

“The K-P government is working with the WHO on a Rs2 billion plan for the prevention of an outbreak,” according to the official.

The major challenge, according to the official, is that this mosquito is becoming increasingly resistant to pesticides.

“People also provide favorable breeding conditions to the mosquito in their homes by letting water stay in open containers which should strictly be avoided,” he said.

In Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) there are less chances of its outbreak this year.

“Timely measures ahead of the summers would help to prevent its outbreak. We cannot eliminate the mosquito but can reduce the vector of the disease by reducing breeding sites,” the official said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2014.