Success story: Swat saps the death out of dengue

The district saw 96% fewer dengue cases than last year, no fatalities

MINGORA:

Swat district witnessed a 96% reduction in dengue cases this year as compared to 2013 because of effective and timely preventative measures taken by the district administration.

According to the district health department, a total of 306 dengue cases were recorded this year with no casualties, a sharp decline from the more than 9,000 people infected in 2013 with over 30 dead. The last dengue patient of this season was discharged from Saidu Teaching Hospital’s dengue unit on November 8 after a full recovery.



DHO Syed Ali Khan told The Express Tribune that they were successful in keeping dengue in check because of the effective role played by all line departments and the district administration.

Khan said local communities can play a vital role in the complete eradication of dengue fever from Swat if they are diligent in taking preventive measures in their houses and surroundings.

Mosquito havens

As per data accumulated by the district health office, the highest percentage of mosquito larva was found in water storage drums kept in people’s houses.



“Skha Cheena was the most affected area this year and larvae were found in the water people had stored in their house,” said Farooq Khan, a medical expert.

Since water is not easily available in this area and people have to fetch it from far off places. They end up storing it in large pots and tanks, providing an ideal breeding ground for the Aedes aegypti mosquito which prefers clean water, he added.

Between 2013 and 2014

This year’s outbreak reared its head in summer; the first dengue case was reported on June 3 from Shahdara area of Mingora, while 2013’s first case was reported in August.

As the Swat District Health Office’s official records had indentified over 9,000 infected patients in 2013, health experts had warned the threat of dengue would be worse the following year if proper planning was not undertaken to tackle the situation.

Therefore, just as the cases began to surface this year, the district administration and health department sprang into action and made all necessary arrangements to meet the virus head on, thereby avoiding a repeat of 2013’s epidemic.

SOURCE: DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICE

Awareness seminars and walks were held, the localities at most risk were sprayed with anti-dengue insecticide, while health teams went door to door educating people on dengue and its prevention as well as testing for the presence of larvae in their stored water.

Swat may have managed to steer clear of a large-scale epidemic this year, however, the mosquito will strike again next year.

Health experts stress on the need for legislation and regulations — as put in place in Punjab — coupled with awareness information in the media to control dengue in the future.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2014.